My 2 best friends - the Yin and Yang of my life

Today, I want to share with you a tale of friendship—of two companions who have been with me through every adventure, every challenge, and every moment of self-discovery, and to be honest, self-destruction too! They have been with me since childhood, and I am lucky to have them. They are my two best friends, each with a distinct and totally opposite personality, and yet, both equally influential in my life.

The first of my best friends is the adventurous one—I call him the dreamer. This friend has always inspired me to push beyond my comfort zone and embrace the thrill of new experiences. He is that inspirational friend we all have who always encourages us to follow our dreams, do what we are passionate about, find that thing we were born to do, and find work that feels like play. However, my second best friend is the pragmatic one—I call him the realist. That’s the friend of mine who always encourages me to do things that are responsible. "No, no, no, don’t do that; that’s too risky. Lots of people who do that end up homeless, lots of people who do that end up really unhappy. Get a secure job to create a stable stream of income." This friend keeps me grounded, reminding me of responsibilities and practical considerations.

Throughout my life, these two friends have engaged in spirited debates, each advocating for their own perspective. There have been countless arguments over dinner, —now, you are being too realistic; you are gonna end up living a boring life. Well, you are being too crazy because you are gonna lead people to try things then fail and then never get anywhere. It’s a constant pull and push I have always experienced with these friends of mine.

It’s really interesting to reflect on, right? When I was young, my dreamer friend would always encourage me to do the things I love and turn those into a profession. It was amazing because of my dreamer friend, I started teaching Math as a part-time job, and I still remember how close I was to making a decision to become a full-time Math teacher, but it was my realist friend who intervened and asked the tough questions about financial sustainability, long-term planning, and the potential risks involved. This wisdom from the realist friend helped me make informed decisions and navigate challenges with resilience.

This dynamic influenced my relationship with my dreamer friend for years. We drifted apart as I leaned more towards the realist's advice.  But after years, when I realized how boring my life had become and how badly I was missing my dreamer friend, I reached out to my dreamer friend, reconnected, and we talked for hours—everything became normal, and I started to enjoy life with both of my friends.

I recall a time when I went skydiving because it was my dreamer friend who whispered, "Take the leap, embrace the unknown," and I'm grateful for that exhilarating moment of freedom. It was my dreamer friend who encouraged me to try new things whether it be late-night bars or restaurants or horse riding, ziplining, feeling the excitement of gliding through treetops. It was a moment of pure exhilaration, a testament to the dreamer's belief in chasing moments of joy and excitement.

While the dreamer urged me to explore new things and pursue unconventional paths, it was my realist friend who advised me to stick with reality, ensuring stability and financial security, and living like there will be tomorrow so don’t get wasted.

Back then, I always inclined towards one or the other, but As I've matured, I've come to value both friends equally.  I need my dreamer friend as well as my realist friend by my side. I talk to them on a regular basis and feel blessed to have them in my life.

If you have not grasped it at this point, I’ll reveal it to you. These are not the two different friends I am talking about—these are the dreamer and realist within me. And, these dreamer and realist friends live within you as well. I believe we should not value one over the other because they are both really important. Here is the analogy I use—when I just listen to the dreamer within me, sometimes I fly so high, I fly straight into the sun and get burned. And, other times, when I only listen to the realist in me, I never end up getting off the ground, and I never know what it feels like to fly and soar. So the dreamer in me ensures that I get to get off the ground and fly, experience the exhilarating feeling of doing something I love, doing something I am passionate about, feeling all the wonderful feelings associated with soaring in life. And, the realist in me keeps me grounded enough so that I don’t fly into the sun and hurt myself. They are both just as important as the other.

Together, my two best friends , the yin and yang of my life, form a harmonious partnership, guiding me through life's ups and downs with wisdom and resilience. They are the unsung heroes of my journey, the silent mentors who teach me valuable lessons every day.

Now, I invite each of you to take a moment to reflect on your own 'dreamer' and 'realist.' What lessons do they offer? How can you nurture and learn from these invaluable aspects of yourself?