Your struggles would be mistaken for time wasted. Your hard work would be mistaken for luck.
And it is all fine because none of it has anything to do with your journey.
I learned this invaluable lesson a few years ago when I had just started working. I clearly remember, I was in the middle of a conversation with my uncle's friend. He seemed keen on demotivating my ambition and determination—while repeatedly claiming he didn't mean to.
We were talking about my big dreams of becoming a musician. After COVID in 2020, I lost my voice, but in 2024, I resumed singing after my voice healed. He expressed his unwanted view, saying, 'You are wasting your time; what is the point of learning music? '
I was taken aback because what exactly is wrong with learning music? To which he said, 'I don't mean to demotivate you, but how long will you waste your time on music? '
I knew where the conversation was going. He just wanted to say that music isn't for me, and I won't be able to do it. I did not bother to tell him that I have a bachelor's degree in Hindustani classical music. Other than that, I can also play 3 musical instruments. But I just made an emphasis on how one should give at least ten years to anything they truly want. An art like music requires both time and dedication.
'You're wasting time on things you should stop doing,' the man replied.'
My uncle added, 'She's already ten years late.'
I was only 23, employed, and financially and emotionally independent.
This family friend was questioning my hard work, and trust me, that was the first time I had seen someone do that so directly. But little did I know he was really speaking about his own failures.
He was over 40 with less than 10 years of work experience. He started taking work seriously only after his son started going to school.
I could understand that it was not exactly his fault. People who often see their endeavors fail tend to question those who plan to dream big.
I told him that hard work is all that matters. It is what has helped me get into college in the first cutoff. It is what has helped me get my writings published.
He instantly replied, 'That's good—because you're lucky.'
'She's very lucky,' my uncle agreed and added more to it.
These are the same people who once said I was "unlucky" to fall sick during my exams. The same people who keep saying that I am a trouble to my parents because of my health. It proved that we don't owe anybody anything at all. People don't care about what you do and how you do it.
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