"Life Is Messy"

"Be courageous enough to accept that life is messy " These are the words of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie from one of her speeches read at Harvard class of 2018 that ring with a profound truth that we often shy away from. Life rarely unfolds as we expect. Normally, we seek control, crave that things unfolds perfectly the way we plan it, and we also plan meticulously for the future, but life’s real nature is unpredictable and very uncertain. It is full of twists and turns that challenge our understanding, disrupt our plans, and push us into uncomfortable spaces of growth.

To embrace the messiness of life doesn’t mean to surrender to chaos, but to acknowledge that while we can’t predict or control everything, we can still choose how to respond to these uncertain situations. Whether it's a failed dream, a lost opportunity, or a sudden change, accepting uncertainty and imperfection is an act of courage. In those moments when life throws us off course, we’re reminded to focus not on what we can’t control, but on what we can, thus, our attitude, our actions, and our perspective.

In her speech, she added that "Ignorance, when acknowledged, is not a flaw but an opportunity and when denied, is a closed door". Recognizing what we don’t know opens the door to learning and growth. However, when we ignore our ignorance, we close ourselves off to possibilities. We limit our capacity to adapt, change, and grow. As Adichie’s words suggest, life’s messiness offers more than uncertainty, it offers chances to evolve if we dare to admit what we don’t know and seek to learn from it.

Each day, we step into moments of uncertainty and the unpredictable nature of life, yet, amidst all these, instead of resisting, we can lean into it. We may not have all the answers, and that’s okay. What matters most is that we keep going, we keep our arms open to new experiences, and unafraid to embrace the unknown. Our greatest strength and growth often lie in the uncertain, and messy spaces.