Conversations With A Person Of No Fixed Abode


I, like so many others, fear failure. It’s the ease with which life can knock you down and keep knocking you down. The possibility of finding yourself in a situation that you didn’t plan for. Or worse, personal stagnation. Yet, I’ve come to appreciate this aspect of life.

Now, I know this all sounds rather pessimistic, but bear with me. The thing is, this insecurity of mine would serve as the main topic, to what is perhaps one of the most interesting conversations I’ve ever had. 

It involves a man who once worked in Canary Wharf. After a series of setbacks and unlucky events, this man became homeless. However, despite it all, this man had no regrets or fears. Which is something I found quite remarkable. 

Admittedly, that concept of having no regrets was quite foreign to me. None the less, as our conversation continued, it became clear that despite his lack of worldly possessions, he possessed something so little do. Wisdom. He confided in me that leading a happy life is simple, it involved ridding yourself of the excess and sticking to basics. 

It was a simple wisdom, but one that struck me. From childhood right through to retirement, we are constantly reaching up to the next rung of society’s ladder. We are told what success is, rather than being able to cultivate our own version of the concept. In a society, where material possessions are the popular yardstick by which we measure success and happiness, it’s hard to remember what really matters.  

Before heading off to my university lectures for the day, the man kindly parted with a few warnings of life lessons collated throughout his years. 

  1. Appreciate life for what it is. An unpredictable roller coaster. It may include times of doubt and despair, however it’s always followed by unimaginable treasures in the forms of love and joy.
  2. Be open-minded, self reflective and be kind to those around you. The universe takes notes of debts, and always pays up.
  3. Embrace failure for what it is, a chance to improve and better yourself. There is a famous Japanese proverb that captures this perfectly “fall seven times and stand up eight.”

Ironically, someone whom society would have looked down upon, had a clearer understanding of what success and happiness were. More so then all those supposedly successful people, lost on the conveyor belt of life.

By Anonymous


Edited By Copywriter: Elixir Ahmed

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