Life is like a wheel where we sometimes find ourselves on top, and at times at the bottom. As they say, it has its ups and downs.
I’d like to always look at the positive messages that one discerns each day from a thought, a passage or an incident which are meant to encourage us to keep trying even if we fail numerous times. This also means never give up even if people have turned their backs on us and to keep going no matter how rocky the road is. This is because life shouldn’t end on a sad note. We become stronger with every problem and we validate our convictions as we resolve these problems.
Success never comes easy. It is a product of hard work, skill, talent, perseverance, and respect for others in the least. All of these values put together in the face of opportunity give you a great chance at success, because real success should never be short-lived. Hence, we need these values to keep our foundations strong and keep us grounded. After all, success is not our end goal – happiness is; and happiness is not having everything you want. It is making the most of what you have and being content with the result.
It is for this reason that we should not compare ourselves with others if only to make us feel insufficient or incapable. Each one of us has our own unique circumstances by which we survive; and our success is measured not by the success of others, but by how we lived inspite of these circumstances.
We are not really all born equal because there are those who are born to wealth and influence. This alone tells us that some are born with the opportunities already waiting while others count years to even find one great opportunity or create one.
This is why we celebrate hard work and achievement and why we should always appreciate even the littlest of achievements.
For example, a child born with deformities who is finally able to hold a glass by himself will feel ecstatic and truly proud of himself as much as a trained figure skater when she or he wins the Olympics.
I’d rate the success of each person at both 100%. The person who used to roam the streets as a drug-dependent who has changed, and now serves the community as a volunteer, clearing the city of garbage, etc., is worth every respect as much as an actress who wins an Oscar.
So when we measure success, we take into consideration the surrounding circumstances and the relative degree of difficulty with which the obstacles were overcome.
And, when we are faced with difficulty or frustration, let us not look at what others have achieved and be distraught. Let us take inspiration from them because they have had their own obstacles to handle.
Instead, let us look at our own goals while remembering where we came from, and let us be content with what we have because as long as we have a dream, we are capable, and nothing should stop us from achieving. The easiest of goals would be to ‘want to be better than who we were yesterday’ and that alone is a positive step towards success.
Let us celebrate the future for whatever it holds knowing that we can learn from our past. We are the masters of our fate.
Let us aim to think well of others and do good deeds. Let’s all look forward to achieving as we follow our own paths towards our destiny while being happy for those that tread their own paths.
If we see anyone who stumbles or is left behind, let us pause… look back, take them by the hand, and lift them up. At the end of our journey, we ask ourselves: What have I done for myself and for others?
Have a beautiful summer everyone. Let us continue to spread kindness and compassion by saying at least one good word for someone each day.
Let us begin today.
