Gently Down The Stream
Merrily Merrily Merrily Merrily
Life is But a Dream
Have you heard that song before? I bet most of us who as a child was introduced to the English language must have heard or even sang the song. According to Wikipedia the first printing of the song was in 1852. Wow, isn’t that amazing?.
Last night, while sitting on the porch of my house, I heard someone sang this song again and again, and suddenly I realized the in-depth meaning of this song (huuu shame on me). And truly, as explained by Wikepedia, the simple lyrics have often been used as a metaphor for life’s difficult choice. And for me this song send a message that life is a reality and not a dream. Well at least to most of us who has no substantial inheritance to rely on.
Numerous comments must have been made on the lyrics but I want to share my thoughts which might be different with others ……. In simple terms and my own understanding, please let me discuss line by line and how the lyrics meant to its audience.
Row Row Row Your Boat
Rowing a boat need not just energy but also the will to compete and complete. Hmm , life is full of struggle, well since we wake up in the morning, take a bath, go to school, complete the homework, take a test, go to work, face your nagging boss, confront the debt collector,and so on. But it is Your Boat, Your Life, so we should take control or like JE Welch stated “Control Your Destiny or Someone Else Will”. The lyrics said not one time but three times Row, Row and Row……the first time we row is probably difficult and full of challenges, the second time we row, oh my God, the rust must have disappeared and it started to get easier and relaxing, the third time we row, with God’s blessing, we should be on our way to our destination. Of course living a healthy life and learning on the best way to row would give us a jump start and expedite our way to one’s destination.
Gently Down The Stream
Gently, take our time, plan ahead, look out into the horizon, take the best option and have an alternative plans. Of course it is always easier said than done. So where do we start? Probably through our passion. Well it could be very tough if we could not identify our own passion. Or we might not get anywhere if we adopt the wrong passion, for example, if Tiger Wood passion is on boxing, would he acquire a world famous status ?Probably not. Check the water, test where it is flowing and then as a start follow the river downstream, at least there is less resistance and even a direction to follow.
Merrily Merrily Merrily Merrily
Be happy and full of high spirit, it is our life and our future. No one really care, except our parents and families through love and understanding, but only ourselves who could control our life. Remember, we all emerge into this world one by one we will depart to wherever we belong on our own. Accept the 80 and 20 rule, nothing is perfect and there is always a second chance. Work on something we know or has passion, if Warren Buffet does not know or has no passion on what he is doing, I do not think he would be one of the richest man in the world.
Life Is But A Dream
Yes, life is anything but Not a Dream. Of course we have to start with a dream, but to realize it, we need to control our dream and take a calculated risk and make it happen. Success or failure, it is to ourselves we have to point our own finger. It is our instinct to point on others of our failure, our parents on what we are today, on the government on what happens to our economy, on our company of our low wage, even though in realityit is really up to us , individually or as group to make a better life.
Well there you go….is it too late to start now……it depends, but once we start to understand on how to row our own boat, life gently should merrily take care of itself……down the stream to own source of happiness.
