Daily Inspiration: Meet Ariel Morales

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariel Morales

Ariel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It started when I realized there’s more to life than just having a purpose. I grew up believing there is always more to do. My parents have always been hard workers. Both my parents were immigrants and started with very little. Now they have a big house, several properties, savings accounts, and good jobs. They had goals, and they got to where they wanted. I worked with my dad on his real estate projects, buying houses and flipping them for profit. There was always something to do. My dad enjoyed the payoff he got from his hard work, but he wasn’t happy with the small joys of life. Whenever he got home from work, he would find more work to do. He would always start a home project, work out, or tackle some random chore that didn’t need to be done.

I compare a lot of my work ethic to his. He’s always on time, gives 110%, and gets the job done. I would try my best to live up to that standard. The biggest difference between my dad and me is that I’m naturally gifted. It’s my downfall. I’m a fast learner and pick things up very easily. One time, my dad took me fishing. He’s pretty good at casting a line. He showed me what I was supposed to do, and I cast the line perfectly on my first try. Not to brag, but this is why I struggle so much in life when it comes to accomplishing my goals. I want to reach a goal, and when I do, it gets boring quickly. I go from job to job after successfully completing whatever it is I set out to do. And life gets very boring very quickly this way.

I love to learn new things and improve my skillset. I’m succeeding, but I’m not enjoying my accomplishments. So about a year ago, on my birthday, I made the decision to enjoy life. That is my goal. I know it sounds counterintuitive—”try to relax”— but after contemplating what it is that I actually enjoy, my goal started to become easier to achieve. That’s where I started doing side quests. I had always tried to accomplish my main quest: get a job, finish school, improve my economic standards. But I hardly ever stopped to smell the flowers. I was comparing my standard of life to my dad’s after all.

After thinking about it, I realized my dad never really seemed happy. He does now, though. He’s taken up hobbies like bird watching. I really think that side quests are what give our lives meaning. I started going to EDM shows, taking walks in the park, and adventuring to places I’ve never been. It’s given my life more color. Life isn’t black and white anymore; it’s full of color.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Whoever said that life is easy is lying to you. Haha. Life can be easy—not that it is, but it can be. Smooth roads aren’t fun, though. If life were a highway with no turns, hills, or potholes, it would be a boring drive. Life is interesting because of its obstacles. That’s how you learn, and that’s why success is so sweet. Learning the mechanics of the car, the rules of the road, and even something as simple as pumping gas into the car—life becomes smoother when you master these skills. When you know a shorter way to the destination and when you’ve done it enough times that it gets easy, life feels smoother. The drive of life isn’t a smooth one, but it can be easier once you learn what you need to know. One specific struggle I’ve encountered is balancing my main quest and my side quests. I never really took the time to enjoy the drive. I’ve always done my best to get from point “A” to point “B.” The hardest part was definitely taking the first step to slow down and appreciate the journey. For me, the first step was to roll down the window and let the wind blow in my face.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I read somewhere that in order to believe in your title, you have to claim it. I now like to say that my profession is “Side Quest Specialist.” It sounds silly, I know, but how is it different from others calling themselves artists, dancers, or performers? I want side quests to be my area of expertise. I started a TikTok channel called Sidequestdeity to share what side quests are in our daily lives. I’ve seen several instances of people trying to mimic side quests. One example is people acting as video game characters and telling others to roleplay in their fantasy without actually needing help or doing a task. Another example is when people are doing tasks that have been given to them, but because they actually need to do the task. Side quests are supposed to be fun. A person completes a side quest because they want to, not because they need to. I just want to show people my side quests. My side quests make me happy. These events are in my life because I wanted them to happen, not because I needed them to happen. I’m happy, not because I need to be happy, but because I want to be.

What makes you happy?
Happiness is a state of mind. People can find joy in whatever they please. If mowing lawns brings you happiness, then mow until the cows come home. If working 24/7 and seeing zeros stack up in your bank account makes you happy, then go ahead and chase that success. Ideally, I aim to strike a balance between the two—doing what gives me meaning and purpose: side quests and main quests. I’ve been diligently focused on my goals and accomplishing what needs to be done, but I’ve found it hasn’t been fulfilling. I realize now that I’ve been missing out on the simple joys of life. I never noticed how beautifully the trees sway in the wind. I want to appreciate the little things in life as much as the big ones. Accomplishing milestones such as my job, my home, and planning my next steps in life brings me happiness, but true joy comes from the moments I stop to savor and enjoy life. I can always believe in myself to finish a task, but that shooting star I see in the night sky won’t ever come again.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidequestdeity
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sidequestdeity