Let me tell you a story. This is a story from the heart of ancient Crete, a story that many of us would have heard (probably incompletely) Daedalus, the ingenious inventor, and his son Icarus were trapped on an island. Not having any mode of getting out, the ingenious mind of Daedalus got to work. With escape in mind, Daedalus crafted wings from feathers and wax, for both Icarus and him to wear and fly away.

🚀 Daedalus' Words:
As he handed the wings to Icarus, Daedalus spoke, his eyes filled with a mixture of pride and concern. "My son, we have the means to escape, but heed my words. Do not fly too close to the sun, for its scorching heat will melt the wax and lead to your downfall. But neither should you fly too close to the sea, as the moisture will weigh you down."

A Forgotten Lesson:
All my life I was told the story of Icarus as a lesson on not flying too close to the sun. In other words, don’t become too greedy or aspire too ahead of time, it may come at a price. While definitely true, i realised only recently that this is only half the lesson.

In the annals of time, the lesson about not flying too close to the sea has often been overshadowed. People, in their aspirations, often forget the dangers of settling too low. The world is filled with those who settled for less, who let their wings graze the waves. Punching below your weight, settling for a safe option, not taking informed and calculated risks, not trusting your gut and going big — these phrases are reflective of flying too close to the sea!

I reflected on this long and hard. Here’s my thesis : Life isn’t merely about avoiding reckless ambition; it’s about embracing the heights of one’s potential. It’s a reflection on the forgotten half of Daedalus' advice, urging us not to settle too low.

Aspire to Achieve:
The wax in our lives isn’t just the fear of failure but also the comfort of mediocrity. Icarus teaches us that while we mustn’t reach for unreachable suns, we mustn’t be content with skimming the surface either. True growth lies in stretching our wings, in aspiring to achieve greater heights. The tale of Icarus serves as a reminder to me, that in our journey, we must find the perfect balance, soaring high, yet never settling too low. It’s a lesson etched in wings of wax and ambition.