“You should enjoy little detours. A lot. Because that's where you'll find the things more important than what you're hunting for.”
Ging Freecss's memorable line still resonates in my mind vividly as if I heard it just moments ago.
The rich timbre of his voice echoes in my ears, and the words themselves seem to shimmer and dance like jewels before my eyes.
Not a real person, Ging is just a character from the anime series Hunter x Hunter, but he has inspired me in many ways that real-life people have not.
As someone who easily grows bored with things that are either too facile or meaninglessly convoluted, Ging's words immediately spoke to me.
The concept of little detours, with all their potential for discovery and surprise, ignited a spark in my heart that has yet to fade.
But I don’t think it’s just those who share my tendency to lose interest quickly who can benefit from Ging’s message. I believe everyone can find value in his words.
I'm well aware that the word 'detour' often carries a negative connotation, which may lead people to associate it with something unfortunate.
However, I've already come to believe that detours can present unique opportunities that reveal themselves only when we choose to trust and follow our instincts and visions, even if they appear to take us off our intended path.
Take Bill Gates, for example. Gates’s original plan was to complete his studies at Harvard and pursue a career in software development.
While studying at Harvard, he saw huge potential in personal computer market and believed it had the power to transform how individuals and businesses operated.
Determined to bring his vision to life, Gates then made a bold decision to drop out of college and start his own company with his friend Paul Allen.
The company they built together eventually becomes one of the most successful and influential technology companies in the world, which we know today as Microsoft.
When someone is brave enough to take a detour and pursue something they truly enjoy, the potential rewards can be extraordinary. Bill Gates has proven this with his Microsoft.
On some occasions, too, taking a detour can offer incredibly valuable assistance in one’s pursuit, in unexpected ways.
Steve Jobs can serve as a good example. After dropping out of college, Jobs followed his curiosity and took a calligraphy course, with no idea how he would use this knowledge.
It wasn’t until years later that he got the chance to use what he had learned when designing the first Mac computer.
His calligraphy expertise had apparently helped him create aesthetically pleasing typography that set Mac apart from other computers and revolutionized the industry.
That said, even if the detour doesn't lead to groundbreaking results like those seen in Microsoft or in the design of Mac computer, the satisfaction of pursuing something we've always wanted to do can be its own reward.
And in the end, we’ll have no regrets.
I believe that's what Ging meant when he said "enjoy little detours, a lot".
And this is also what I plan to do. While my current interest is in exploring human consciousness, I won't limit myself to working solely on that.
There are still tons of fascinating subjects out there, and who knows what I could find in them?
I admit I can’t guarantee these detours will directly contribute to my understanding of human consciousness, but that’s not the only goal of my journey.
The joy of stumbling upon surprises that come from exploring different subjects is just as important as achieving my primary objective, after all.