Jackie Chan, the famous movie star, actor, director, writer, producer and stuntman, was asked “Are you happy with your life?” they asked. He answered as follows; One day I read a wise saying. He was saying; The hard work you complain about is an unemployed person’s dream. Naughty children who test your patience are the dream of a childless family. The house you complain about being small is a homeless person’s dream. An illness that you complain about is a dream of someone who is struggling with a terminal illness. We should value everything we have by being grateful. Because no one knows what tomorrow will bring us and what we will become.

            In this world, people at every level, even companies, compete with each other. The point one person dreams of reaching one day may be the lowest point for another. What one person dreams of owning lies in another person’s garbage. Just like second hand goods stores… One’s old becomes the other’s new. The food or item thrown away by one person becomes a means of holding on to life for the other.

You will most often encounter examples of this in the university environment. As a matter of fact, when you become an academician at a university, you do not just give lectures. You will also encounter students’ different dreams and career plans. You will also see students who know 4-5 foreign languages ​​but have no plans for the future, or students whose whole life would change if they only knew one foreign language.

One of my students said; When I finish university, I will be the first person to graduate not only in my entire circle of relatives, but also in the village where I was born and raised. In return, his best friend said; My family is very rich. He said, “If I graduate from Harvard, not much will change in my life, even if I never graduate from a university.” I have never forgotten this great difference between the students regarding their futures. How different their starting points were.

            Everyone has a different story in this world. One day, a female student told me; I feel so sad every time I look in the mirror. “I wonder who would hire me with this type of person and who would want to marry me,” he said. He was so desperate. Whenever this student of mine took the floor and started talking in class, his friends laughed at him. Because they found his voice very ugly.

            I must admit, it was like that… One day I said to her; Come with me tomorrow, I will recommend you somewhere. I took her to a company that produces voice-overs and dubbing for movies, TV series and cartoons. They were people I knew and trusted. After a few test shoots, they hired her. Her voice, which was said to be ugly, became the cornerstone of his career. She started voicing animal characters in cartoons and actors in creature and zombie movies and became a sought-after name in this field.    Unhappiness in life begins when we compare ourselves to others. Life that is full of obstacles for one person is a straight road for another. The important thing here is that everyone tries to be the most productive in life by doing justice to their circumstances. There are no important or unimportant professions. It’s all about how much we care about ourselves. No one values ​​us more than we value ourselves. Remember; You are important.

By Osman OZSOY