THE universe truly only exists in the way that we are capable of seeing it. Perspective is the sculptor of reality, and what each person views as important is vastly different. So, every single person who goes through life is experiencing the world in a slightly different manner. Each colour is different. Each memory, each fragrance, each sunrise and each day is completely unique when it exists in the mind of the people who have experienced it. Regardless of how different our perspectives of the world are, we all seem to inevitably find ourselves in pursuit of the same thing: truth.

In the same way that all of the planets revolve around the sun, our lives seem to revolve around a strange but ultimate truth. As we all compete to survive in a reality that is shaped by fickle human perspectives, we soon realise that there is a truth, which is objectively real, that guards the universe. There are some who intentionally search for it, while most others seek it in the form of happiness, success and love. However, we all meet our version of this objective truth during the course of our lives only when we are meant to, and it will change us for the better.

In the meantime, we spend our days uncovering smaller, easier truths. For instance, we dive into oceans to find pearls in the centre of clams. Then we probe into the pearls until we discover that their centre is made of a grain of sand. Similarly, we part clouds with the aluminium wings of our aircraft just to find that there is more sky behind the clouds. We have scoured the deep seas and uprooted forests of trees for the sake of discovery – for the sake of truth. Yet, we have never stopped to wonder whether we really ought to be looking for these truths in the first place, or what we are failing to remember in our pursuit of new truths.

Every few years, a new generation begins to take over the world from its predecessor. Along with control over the world, the generation inherits stories and culture that it must pass on to the generation that comes after it. However, it has become an unfortunate fact that over the past few decades, we have lost much of our history and culture during the process of these transitions. Languages have died away, traditional clothing and dishes have disappeared, and important stories have faded away with time. While there are many reasons for this saddening issue, the root lies in the fact that we have begun to value undiscovered truths more than we value the discovered truths. That is, we have begun to place more effort into seeking new discoveries than we do conserving our history and our culture.

As members of a younger generation, we are naturally attracted to the new and undiscovered. We are drawn towards mystery and novelty. Yet, there is beauty that lies in the old and mundane things that we often neglect to explore. There are truths worth seeking in the folk tales that our older family members share. There are memories worth revisiting, which are ingrained in the music and clothing that our parents enjoy. Even if we do not adopt these small traditions, we have the responsibility of passing them on to the next generation so that they may at least have a chance to know that they existed. In order to do so, we must know that they existed in the first place.

It is easy to be enticed into a journey of discovering new things, new stories and new cultures. However, these new truths ultimately become meaningless when they are used to replace information about our history rather than build on it. After all, what is the use of discovering new things if they, too, will be forgotten when newer knowledge is found?

The most important truths in life are not discovered, but shared. If there is truly an ultimate truth, then trust that you will meet it without needing to search for it. As we wait, let us not forget to remember and pass on those stories, lessons and truths that our own ancestors found and hoped to preserve in the traditions that have managed to survive today.