The Hidden Treasures of Late Blooming

One of our greatest desires as humanity is to begin early. We are naturally drawn to the idea of instant gratification to the point where we have fabricated hatred towards the idea of delayed gratification. We spend most of our youth chasing an adulthood that will make us wish we were still young, and when we reach adulthood, we regret all the past moments that could have been used to prepare us for a future we prefer.

Most of us grew up hating the idea of being young and thought the elders were using the reminiscence of their youthful days as a manipulative strategy to force us to love being young so we could willingly obey their law. We thought being told what to do was a form of enslavement rather than an act of educating us about the discipline that was required in order for us to grow and become responsible adults. We saw our elders sleeping late, waking up early, going to work, getting paid wages or salaries, getting drunk over the weekends or during weekdays after work, smoking excessively, indulging in too much sexual intercourse, and we thought that was freedom. We wanted to live like they were living. Little did we know that we were more free as children than we are now as adults who are unprepared for adulthood or adults who wasted their adulthood in their teenage years thinking they were preparing for it. We laughed at those who understood that responsible adults are like trees whose seeds are watered with discipline. We called them party poopers and late bloomers.

They chose to obey those who lived before them rather than listen to the voice of their rebellious ego. They listened when they were told that childhood is shorter than adulthood and promises nothing but memories of ended friendships and lost young love. They chose to stay indoors and do homework even when all of their friends were gathered outside for a game of hide and seek. They went out to join the sports teams on days that were scheduled for extramural activities, and were disciplined enough to stay consistent with what was required of them in order for them to stay on those teams and make it to award ceremonies as the best players on those teams. They chose to stay home most weekends and announced days or weeks prior to the weekends they went out. They always returned from outings before sunset and were up early to help the elderly women prepare food for Sunday brunch while still having time to prepare themselves for Sunday's church service. Our ignorance towards their actions made us mock them without giving ourselves a chance to observe and learn from their determination and discipline. We did not seek any involvement with them because we believed being seen with them would taint the image painted by our fake popularity. We could not break out of the cages of our egos. We were trapped by the pretentious admiration of peers who praised us by celebrating our unruly actions. The funny thing is that one can jokingly say "We were gods of destruction," but in hindsight, we were the joke, only causing self-destruction to our younger selves.

When a pirate embarks on a journey to discover the world's most precious treasures, patience and perseverance become their most valuable assets. At that time, while still sailing the heavy waves of the ocean, their guns and expensive mining gear became worthless. If he or she is not well prepared to endure the patience and perseverance that come with sailing, the ship sinks with all the useful tools that the pirate has gathered for mining treasure, and therefore, all treasure is lost. This is the same tragedy that happens to early bloomers. They sink the ship before reaching their desired destination. They drown all the tools that are required to dig up long-lasting treasure. It is a lack of good training and good mental preparedness that causes this misfortune. Before departure, a failed pirate spends their time indulging in activities that make them drift from the mission ahead. They become boastful about being part of a group of celebrated legendary pirates and begin to celebrate the cause. This act distracts them from the main goal by giving them an imaginary reward. They skip the training process that molds the necessary discipline that is needed. They count the chicks before the eggs hatch and ruin the beauty of having to celebrate the birth of something precious. Early bloomers tend to exhaust most of their potential in their youthful years, when time and energy still allow them to train themselves or seek training or mentorship that prepares them for a fulfilling adulthood. They see their youthful enthusiasm and beauty as treasures that will never fade. They use this as an excuse to partake in activities that suck life out of them. Like the pirate who celebrates before departure, the universe enriches them with all the knowledge and skills that are necessary for them to sail with legendary pirates. They are chosen amongst many because their character caters to the task, but out of ignorance of themselves, they sway away from the mission they are called for. Their discipline is not patient enough to handle the heavy waves of adolescence. Their self-admiration puffs out an ecstasy of rebellion towards whoever is trying to prepare them for the waves ahead. One day, they will wake up in the middle of the ocean, swallowed by the gigantic waves of the ocean. Huge amounts of water will slap the ignorance out of them as they taste the salty flavors of regret. All of their egos will be shattered together with the boat, breaking into pieces that drown with humility, for the ocean has humbled them with its test of patience and perseverance.

Those that made it to the final destination were those that did not make it to the first ship. They remained behind and chose to study more. They understood the importance of preparation and were honest enough to admit to themselves that they were not ready for the mission that was at hand. They had no desire to be seen with popular and legendary pirates. They understood the nature of time and seasons and were willing to wait for their turn. The legends mocked them for being slow learners and doing everything with precision. According to the legends, "If you were born with it, you will always come with treasure... it's a God-given talent," they said. The legends were speaking out of arrogance and were using the absence of the young pirates in their good old days to their advantage. Most of the early-bloomer pirates believed every word that was spoken by the legends because, according to them, the popular pirates could not be wrong. All the young ones wanted was to resemble the legends. The late-blooming pirates, through their willingness to wait, were able to see through most of the legends' lies. Their art of precision allowed them to carefully study the backgrounds of the legends to uncover what made each of them great pirates. To their surprise, they found out that most of the legendary pirates were not notably skilled in their younger years. They, too, had to undergo specific training in order to be remarkable sailors. It is this great secret that the late bloomers keep hidden from the early bloomers and use to their own advantage. The early bloomers could not access this wisdom because they believed everything that was said by the legends, and their mockery towards the late bloomers meant that they could not communicate with them to receive strategies on how to secure themselves during the mission and when they had arrived at their destination. The early bloomers, due to their need to impress the legendary pirates, could not even humble themselves enough to seek guidance from the elders. Everything they did was out of spontaneity that was governed by their untrained wisdom. Their unruly actions became the cause of the ship's sinking. They became the reason why their lives crumbled at the center of the ocean, where the tide becomes heavier.

Stories of the tragedy experienced by early-bloomers were expressed by the late-bloomers who were left behind during the mission. They were now grown and wise enough to take on the mission head-to-head. They learnt from the mistakes of the early-bloomers and the legends whose egos had caused them to lose focus. They were fully prepared with knowledge and skills that allowed them to improve the old technology and strategies and replace them with ones that assured their safety and ensured that they would reach their destination without having to suffer from the heavy tides of the ocean or from the attacks of foreign pirates who were also searching for the same treasure as them. Their patience and perseverance were finally paying off. The late-bloomers woke up one early morning and gathered all the gear that was needed in order to make their trip worthwhile. They gathered their families and the community at large for a farewell ceremony. Prayers were shared and traditional incense was burnt to connect to their ancestors and the Gods they believed governed their lives. After seeking guidance from their spiritual guides, the pirates stepped onto the ship and began their departure.

After years of mockery that led to them doubting themselves, after years of constant isolation, and after years of choosing what was best for their future selves, the late-bloomers made their arrival at the promised land, where their treasure awaited. They returned home with the treasure, and a celebration was held in their honor. They became the new legends, and the stories of the early-bloomers and old legends were long forgotten.