Wishes, cravings, desires and more desires. This is what life is all about. From the moment we wake up in the morning, craving our favourite breakfast, to wanting only our favourite teachers at school, to wishing we could skip homework at home, to yearning for a late-night outing and staying awake for hours — our lives are filled with desires.

From dawn till sundown, we are consumed by desires. As one desire is fulfilled, another takes its place, creating an endless cycle. But what elements fuels these desires? What makes them so powerful and essential? What elements contribute to the concept of desire — are they love, peace, justice, want, need and countless others?

I recall the times when I’ve wanted something so badly that all other desires faded away. I became fixated on that one desire, wishing fervently for its fulfilment. Later, I would realise that the time and effort I dedicated to achieving that desire were worthwhile.

Desires such as, “I will earn that trophy this year”, “I’ll win the race next time”, “I aim to secure the first position in Urdu Literature”, propel us forward. Desires are what drive us to accomplish tasks and pursue goals. Without desire or willpower, we’re left with empty hands, no matter how hard we try.

However, merely desiring something isn’t enough; we must strengthen our desires with hard work, dedication and perseverance. We need to make our desires our goals and live by them. Desires demand our full attention because they push us forward, preventing us from looking back with regret. With hard work and a strong desire, anyone can achieve success — from Earth to Pluto, from moon to the stars. All it takes is learning, effort and a burning desire.

Desires are not just aspirations; they are the driving force behind what we want and what we achieve. So, dream big, desire big and take actions that exceed expectations. Desire is what propels us to explore uncharted territories, just as our ancestors desired to innovate and improve their lives.

The word “future” is the fruit borne from the tree of desires. Our actions and desires today shape how that tree grows. Small desires yield small results, but ambitious desires lead to monumental achievements. However, as we pursue our desires, we must not forget our ethics. Our ethics are intertwined with our growth, guiding us as we progress. Losing sight of our ethics can derail us from the right path towards our goals.

Before acting on our desires, we must consider the consequences of our actions and how they may impact others. Observation and reflection are crucial before embarking on significant endeavours.

So, before you move on to another article, take a moment to absorb this one. In this world, we, the youth, inherit the legacy of our ancestors and carry forward the narrative of humanity. Aim high, think higher and aspire for the highest ideals.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 20th, 2024