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Who timed it for you?

You can start very late and still
you are the best), you will find
reach there. Life isn't a race
yourself questioning self-worth.
where winning matters. It is a
Stop seeking validation from
race not based on who comes
others. Try from within.
first, but based on whether you
A person can be naturally
complete the track or not. It's
talented, gifted with the ability to
about not quitting halfway. Even
master something, but if that
if you finish last, it's about
person doesn't practice, exercise,
finishing it. Anyone who reaches
revise, and update themselves,
there, no matter how slow they
they will watch themselves failing
are, is a winner. You might feel
and even worse, they will not
like you've wasted your life away
realize or understand why.
and you can't try now. But, it does
But despite all these, life does not
not work that way. Until you exist,
really care about your conquests.
you still have time to go for it. If
Man constructed the hustle
someone can do it before you, it
culture, the necessity to prove
only means they had better
himself better than others, for
leverage. It does not mean you
various reasons, for sport, for
lack quality or skill. If those you
dominance, territory marking,
compare yourself with are not
etcetera. All that matters is
privileged, it only means they,
whether you exist or not. That's
who gained the spotlight already,
the most life seeks from you.
have started their work earlier
Existence. Everything else is
than you. Therefore, stop
manmade. Choose what battle you
comparing. Your only
wish to fight and think who
competition is yourself in this
bestows that upon you. Was it you
race. Your sole aim in this track is
or society? Who timed it for you?
to best the previous version or
Who gave you the ultimatums?
record of yours.
Who limited the choices for you?
Most people only try to best
Was it you or someone else?
others for this validation. When
we best ourselves, we are our only
witness; but when we best others,

more than one person knows that.
Therefore, stop seeking
validation because if you do not
get it (and there are many socio-
political factors for that, even if
Arunesh Babu N
Research Scholar
HSS
2022-26

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