In our life, we have people around us who have a great influence over us – our parents, teachers, friends, and partners. How much hold do they have on our life? Are we living the life we dreamed for ourselves or the life that others wish for us?

A lot of us dreamed to be superheroes or magicians when we were kids. We dreamed of saving the world, marrying our own heroes or heroines, have magical kids, or live in Hogwarts. We also dreamed of becoming modern day heroes of society – doctors, teachers, nurses, you name it. Dreams, however, remain dreams for as long as we let them stay as that; our choice is what matters. What does that mean?

First, while the people we love and know are entitled to their own opinions on how we should live our lives, we must never lose sight that it is our life to live - not someone else’s.

Second, while it is important to consider the choices in front of us, what seems the right choice to others may not necessarily be the right choice for us.

Third, while it is easier to live on the safe side where people tell us to go, can we honestly tell ourselves that we’re truly happy with that? After all, ships are not made to stay in the safe harbour but to cross the seas and oceans of uncertainty.

It is important to be open and honest with ourselves. Then we discover that we can be the hero that we want to be, and we might just find the happiness that we dreamed about and that we truly deserve.