How do we find true purpose when we’re already on a train heading in one direction from the very beginning of our live?

We’re often limited in what we can try our hands on, and we end up living vicariously through others.

Most times, the things we aspire to be or become are based on what we’ve been told is good for us, or what simply looks appealing to us. Even more agonizing is the fact that these aspirations often align with what society demands.

In Nigeria for example, lots of people want to work in the oil industry or for a big tech firm.

On a global scale, more people aspire to be footballers, basketball players, tech experts, or fashion brand owners.

One thing I admire about the Renaissance era, from my understanding of things especially the upper class members , is the fact that they were skilled in various areas of what society might need. It was then left for them (an individual) to choose where they wanted to specialize or excel .

An average educated person in that era has working knowledge of mechanics, architecture, science (medicine), law and economics.

Take for example Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, known for his paintings of the Mona Lisa he was a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect.

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was a sculptor, painter, architect,and poet.

Seldom do you see architects and scientists in the same conversation bracket anymore.

So why all this rambling about renaissance era?…Plato said something about an ideal city, (society), “everyone one should work in an area that best accentuate the individual gift they have”.

But how do you know what you are best at when you haven’t even tried everything?

Growing up, I joined a music class. My initial interest was in the violin, but the music tutor looked at our hands and decided which instrument best fit us, so,yeah, I ended up playing the recorder, To this day, i will never know if i was any good with the violin.

So why ask a question that has no answer?

My Utopian answer is this:  try as many things as possible. Be a Jack of all trades, master of none, but often better than a master of one .

How do we find true purpose when we’re already on a train heading in one direction from the very beginning of our live?

We’re often limited in what we can try our hands on, and we end up living vicariously through others.

Most times, the things we aspire to be or become are based on what we’ve been told is good for us, or what simply looks appealing to us. Even more agonizing is the fact that these aspirations often align with what society demands.

In Nigeria for example, lots of people want to work in the oil industry or for a big tech firm.

On a global scale, more people aspire to be footballers, basketball players, tech experts, or fashion brand owners.

One thing I admire about the Renaissance era, from my understanding of things especially the upper class members , is the fact that they were skilled in various areas of what society might need. It was then left for them (an individual) to choose where they wanted to specialize or excel .

An average educated person in that era has working knowledge of mechanics, architecture, science (medicine), law and economics.

Take for example Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, known for his paintings of the Mona Lisa he was a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect.

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was a sculptor, painter, architect,and poet.

Seldom do you see architects and scientists in the same conversation bracket anymore.

So why all this rambling about renaissance era?…Plato said something about an ideal city, (society), “everyone one should work in an area that best accentuate the individual gift they have”.

But how do you know what you are best at when you haven’t even tried everything?

Growing up, I joined a music class. My initial interest was in the violin, but the music tutor looked at our hands and decided which instrument best fit us, so,yeah, I ended up playing the recorder, To this day, i will never know if i was any good with the violin.

So why ask a question that has no answer?

My Utopian answer is this:  try as many things as possible. Be a Jack of all trades, master of none, but often better than a master of one .