It is uncommon to hear someone say, “I invested $1 million in stocks yesterday. There is no way I wouldn’t earn money.” This is easily understood – because no amount of money invested would guarantee you a return.
Yet, it seems like we believe that simply because we invested in the people and work in our lives, we should be compensated accordingly.
If we pulled three all-nighters in a row for a project, it must succeed. If we exhaust ourselves every day to make sure our kids’ studies and homework are done perfectly, they have to get a good score at school. If we went through all those difficulties and obstacles during a relationship, surely our marriage would be an easy, peaceful ordeal.
But reality doesn’t deal its cards according to fairness. A sudden earthquake could destroy the fields and crops farmers spent a whole season caring for. A stroke of luck could allow a gambler to win a million dollars without working for it.
The most unimaginable things happen to the most ordinary people.
Sometimes we win. Sometimes we learn. That’s the way of life.
Like stars, life sparkles, shines and smiles. It won’t do, however, if we forget that they also flicker, darken, and hide in times. Life has its ups and downs. Sometimes we win. Sometimes we learn. Yet it is this uncertainty that gives us the urge to try harder, run faster, and jump higher. We may not always win. But we won’t always fail either. We just have to make sure every time we trip, we would push ourselves up – our knees may be bloody, our elbows may be bruised, but we will leap over whatever it is that put us down before.
Aspire to be excellent, not successful.
“Don’t run behind success. Follow behind excellence, success will come behind you.”
– Rancho, 3 Idiots.
We set our goals at getting promotions at work, making our children the best students, or getting the highest grades. It’s so often that we forget in chasing after success, we lost sight of what is important. Work is about writing great articles that people enjoy reading, teaching and transferring knowledge to students, or designing beautiful residences for people to live in. Success is not, and should not be your destination. It should merely be something you pick up along the way.
Work hard and step forward – even if they are just baby steps.
“If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.”
– Nora Roberts
We may work extremely hard for something we wanted. Unfortunately, it isn’t just about how hard we worked. There are factors that we can’t control in the ultimate scheme of things.
Does that mean we should just give up?
No. No. It simply means we must dedicate 120% of our efforts towards the things we want, so when the opportunity comes, we are going to hold it as tight as we can and let it carry us towards success. Be not afraid of stumbling and embrace challenges as they come, because if you don’t work hard for it, if you don’t try to go forward, you will never have it.
Failures in life don’t define us.
Life may not be fair. There will be many times when you would be frustrated and tired, grief-stricken and furious. And that is completely normal. Just don’t let these times define you.
You are better than that.
We are better than that.
Shine like the stars and be remembered for all your beauty and glory.
Featured photo credit: Picjumbo via picjumbo.com
