Once upon a time, there were two friends who set out on a journey to a certain destination. At first, they enjoyed each other’s company and supported each other along the way, but soon, they became rivals for no good reason.

Each wanted to reach the destination faster than the other and started to sabotage and mislead each other. Their journey turned into a bitter race and they lost their way. They were so obsessed with winning and competing that they forgot about their relationship, their feelings, their goal and the purpose of their journey.

This story reflects our situation today. We are living life as a race, a race of so-called perfection, where everyone is trying to fit in society without knowing where they are going. We are desperate for acceptance and recognition, but this race has no end or reward, only loss. We have lost our true selves. We see everyone as a competitor and a judge. We follow trends blindly, regardless of our likes or dislikes. We are afraid of being judged and rejected by society, so we suppress our own voices, perspectives and opinions. In short, life has become a competitive race. This has created insecurity and hatred among people and they are trying to isolate each other.

What we need to understand is that life is not a race or a competition. It is a journey, a beautiful journey that should be enjoyed, not alone but together. Always remember that nobody is perfect. To err is human, but to gracefully accept your mistakes and correct them is an art that only a few master.

Instead of being desperate to be perfect for others and measuring yourself by their standards, try to be a better version of yourself. Enjoy the little things in life and be grateful for what you have.

Published in Dawn, Young World, September 2nd, 2023