Life is not what you expect: it is made up of the most unexpected

Hear, O travelers upon the winding road of existence, the words of Ilaiyaraaja, who declared: “Life is not what you expect: it is made up of the most unexpected twists and turns.” In this utterance, he names the mystery that lies at the heart of every human journey. For though we chart our paths with care, though we dream of destinations with clarity, life rises like the sea—calm at one moment, storm-tossed the next—reminding us that it is not ours to command, only ours to endure with courage and grace.

The origin of these words flows from Ilaiyaraaja’s own life, the great composer who rose from humble beginnings in rural India to shape the music of generations. He did not live a life written in straight lines. Poverty, struggle, rejection, and chance meetings carried him forward as much as talent or ambition. His saying is not mere poetry but testimony: that no man or woman can predict their future with certainty, for fate delights in surprise, and destiny is carved from the unexpected.

Consider the truth of the unexpected. You may begin a day in peace and end it in turmoil; you may set out on one road and find yourself thrust upon another. Many have sought fortune only to find wisdom; many have sought power only to stumble upon humility. The twists and turns are the crucible in which character is forged. It is not in the expected, where all is easy, but in the sudden storm, the unforeseen trial, that the true strength of the soul is revealed.

History offers us countless examples. Recall the life of Nelson Mandela, who dreamed of freedom for his people and found himself imprisoned for 27 years. What seemed like the end was, in truth, the preparation for his destiny. The unexpected twist of his long captivity gave him the patience, wisdom, and moral authority to later lead a divided nation into reconciliation. His story, like Ilaiyaraaja’s words, proves that what seems like loss may become triumph, and what feels like despair may be the birth of hope.

So too in the realm of discovery: Christopher Columbus sought a new path to India but found instead the vast continents of the West. His voyage was filled with uncertainty and near-mutiny, yet the unexpected turn reshaped the world. History does not unfold according to human expectation, but according to the ceaseless dance of chance, courage, and providence.

The meaning of Ilaiyaraaja’s wisdom is therefore both sobering and empowering. We cannot prevent life from surprising us, but we can prepare our hearts to meet it with resilience. To expect the unexpected is to live wisely, knowing that disappointment may become blessing, and misfortune may open a hidden door. The soul that clings only to its plans will break; the soul that bends with fate will endure.

The lesson for us is clear. Do not despair when life departs from your expectations. Instead, embrace the twist, for it may be the very road you were meant to walk. Cultivate resilience, so that when storms come, you do not shatter. Remain humble, for the unexpected often humbles pride but uplifts the faithful. And above all, trust the journey, for though it may wound, it also refines, shaping you into who you were destined to become.

Thus let the words of Ilaiyaraaja endure: “Life is not what you expect: it is made up of the most unexpected twists and turns.” Carry them in your heart as a lamp upon the road. For when the path bends suddenly, when the night descends without warning, you will remember that such is the nature of life itself—and that in these very twists lies the beauty and meaning of the journey.