A Book by Chris Hadfield: a Significance of Hard Work in Life

One thing that squares with my beliefs that I obtained from my reading was a certain idea that Chris Hadfield touched on early in the book. It was the idea that he said “I wasn’t destined to be an astronaut. I had to turn myself into one” (Hadfield, Chris. An Astronauts Guide to Life on Earth. Pg. 2). This idea is so important to me because it was the fact that he realized that he couldn’t just wish to be an astronaut, he needed to work hard and push himself to become what he wanted to be. It expresses the idealism that we all need to work hard and push past the limits that society puts upon us.

This is something that is not really easy for a child to realize, it’s something that takes years of experience and determination to even fathom the importance of believing in yourself. I myself want to be a psychologist for the criminally insane, open up my very own institution, and then later become a psychology professor. I have had these ideas and plans ever since I was in third grade. This has been a driving force in my social and academic career since then, and now being in college I feel that I can actually take the steps to my goal. I understand Hadfield’s passion and determination to make his dreams come true.

That is something that absolutely resonates to core of my very existence. Three points that I remember from the reading would include him saying “…trying to figure out how to get where I want to go when just getting out the door seems impossible”, “It’s not difficult to make yourself work hard when you want something the way I wanted to be an astronaut, but it sure helps to grow up…”, and “That we were responsible for the consequences of our own actions was just a given” (Hadfield, Chris. An Astronauts Guide to Life on Earth. Pg.2-4). These quotes strike my memory like a hot iron; it is these quotes that create a standard that builds upon the best concepts for the way to live. The first quote is important because it is something we all have trouble with; getting ones foot in the door in any situation is something that takes practice. Even when faced against impossible odds that will always be the first step to success.

The second quote holds the truth of determination and allowing yourself to seek the passions of your wildest dreams. This is also a strong idealism that if we like what we do, then you never work a day in your life. If you really want something and you give one-hundred percent of your effort into then you can do and have anything. This second quote displays the idea that the sky’s the limit, but even more so of breaking that limit as well. Now addressing the third quote regarding owning the responsibility of our own consequences; this displays Hadfield’s morals as well as a comment on society.

It is a truth that we are taught as children to take responsibility for ones actions, but that is hammered even further into us as we mature. This is something that I was constantly reminded of having been a troubled child growing up. I fought others that insulted me, I was bullied, and I allowed myself to have an overall negative outlook on life for years. The actions of others put me into a state of disbelief and this pushed me into playing the role of a bully. I was a terrible person and when it finally caught up to younger me sitting in the principal’s office something he said broke through all of the mess and hardened shell.

I realized what I had become and was disgusted by it, I hated it, and I hated myself, but I did not search for pity because I did not deserve it. I did bad things and all I could do is take responsibility for the things I did and be a better person. I feel the deepest connection to Hadfield’s story and I absolutely love these quotes! A question that is in my mind is really just the curiosity of how the rest of the book will play out? So far I’m really happy with the text and hope to continue enjoying it throughout my time taking this class.