Grow with the Flow

Long ago in the kingdom of Neverland, there was a rabbit and a tortoise. Both of them decided to compete against each other in a marathon. The rabbit is the faster one who slept under a tree, thinking it would still win because the tortoise is too slow. The tortoise moves at its own unique pace and ends up winning. The rabbit cries, the tortoise laughs, and it lives happily ever after. The moral of the story, life is a race, you have to move at your own pace and win! 

Now let us have a look at another story: 

Far away in the kingdom of Wonderland, there was an elephant and a mouse. They were best of friends. Both decided never to compete against each other. There was no competition or marathon. They both lived happily ever after by going with the flow. The moral of the story, life is not a race, you must move at your own pace and live happily.

Dear kids, you probably see your elder siblings working and studying all day long without pauses. You probably see them getting bald out of the workload of the projects and assignments. You probably see your parents doing the same, work and work that is all. Unfortunately, some of them are working their fingers to the bone and are under a lot of pressure. The reason behind this is that we millennials were taught to compete on almost every life ground. The society we live in created an unseen race, and like a black hole, this idea of a race engulfed us. No doubt we are a hollow and depressed generation.

Stories like these have made us sure that there’s a race going on. This curse was passed on by  our ancestors, who thought of life as a marathon. Stories like the former, one trained our minds on the fact that we have to leave others behind to live a happy life. It infused how essential it is to be a part of a race in our minds. It taught us to try to put down anyone who might be better than us on several grounds. No one told us the fact that everyone has a hidden gift. If you look around yourself, you will know how true this is. Everyone is imperfectly perfect in their own special and unique way.

If someone in your class is good at studies, it does not mean they have reached the highest level of perfection. Indeed, there are flaws in that specific student. Similarly, take a student in your class whom your teachers sadly call or consider dumb. Sit with them for some time, and I can guarantee that they would be creative in writing, painting, sketching, singing, etc. 

When I was a kid, my parents used to reward me if I beat my best friend in exams. When I was a teenager, they would ask me to strain my nerves to get into medical college. When I was in my early 20s, they wanted to marry me off with a well-settled and handsome man. By the time I was 26, I had needed a psychiatrist because of too much peer pressure. That is when I broke free of those chains. I am not a part of any race. I am working at my own pace, doing things I like, creating something I love. 

The decision was a success, but the damage was already done. If you are one of those kids under the immense pressure of studies, know that there is much more to life than it. Sit your parents down and tell them about your limits, strengths, and weaknesses. If you study 14 hours a day, make it 4 hours a day. Follow your dreams. Do things that unwind your brain. Let some air in. Let those runners run and see how you all are on the same page at the end of the day. 

If you go with the flow, wisdom shall follow and accepting what nature got for you. One should catch things life throws at them. Life is not a race, so do not run. Nothing is wrong with walking slowly. 

Always remember,

“Happy is not the one who wins the race. Happy is the one who is not in the race.”