Scientifically, who we are is mostly determined by our genetics. What is expected of us is to be better than our relatives who came before us. Most of the time, we are not expected to deviate from who they were but just a better version of them. Sometimes their expectations are not our desires path and we find ourselves struggling to be who we really want rather than fulfilling the societal expectations. For some reason we are afraid of disappointing the people we love so we keep to ourselves the true identity that will make us really happy. We hide it by saying, “as long as they are happy and proud of me, I am happy as well.” However, this will always end in disaster and we find ourselves blaming others for our mistakes, yet it would have been easier to say that the path you are choosing is going to be a different one.
The lyrics to the song living years was written to depict a struggled relationship between a father and son. The son wishes that he had told his father how he really felt when he was still alive. Now that he is already gone is when he realizes the connection he had to his father. You never miss the waters until the well is running dry. Parents love their children dearly, and so do children adore their parents. Parents want the best for us and that is why we would feel prisoners to their beliefs and hostage to their hopes and dreams. We would want as much as possible to emulate who they were and think that they would be prouder of us if we walked the same path. However, we need to understand that they only want the best for us. They want us to be happy and our success is what will make them happiest. Not imprisoning ourselves to their beliefs. Somehow their beliefs is what worked out for them and without intending to imposing on us they would like to teach us their ways. However, the fact that they love us unconditionally is what we should take home and give ourselves freedom and make them proud by succeeding in whatever path we choose to take.
Every generation will try to put the blame of their struggles on the people that came before. Little do they know that the former had their own struggles and to some point, they made things better for the newer generations. The lyrics to this song is and remains to be a timeless concern for every generation. Sometimes the pressure we feel to be perfect is not imposed on us by anyone but because we see the struggles that our parents went through and because they tell us about it we feel like we are supposed to follow the same path. Well, sometimes we just end up loving the same paths as them which is okay. But we need to be happy in whatever we choose. We need not choose our lives based on others. We need to be more of ourselves and less of others. Furthermore, their blood than runs through is and their love for us is much more stronger than copying their beliefs. Every single person is an original and has a different purpose to fulfill. Learning our people’s lives, struggles, beliefs, hopes and dreams will help us understand them more and learn to love and appreciate them more. So while they are still around to guide us, let us show them the love we have for them. After all, it’s too late when we die to tell them our feelings.