They say that to succeed, you've got to find the nuts and bolts of life and stick to them, but those words weren't meant for me, or maybe they were. Phew!"
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Permit me to introduce myself as Mary, a tall, fair, and slim-thick girl from a family of four. All my life, I've been surrounded by people who are always trying to remind me that to succeed, I need to discover the nuts and bolts of life. Everywhere I go, I hear their voices; they whisper in my head, and every time I close my eyes, I see them too. I feel like my voice is drowned out by theirs.
I feel like I have a lot of people controlling me and trying to mold me into perfection. Those were my thoughts as I headed to school on a Friday morning.
As I entered the classroom that morning, my eyes landed on Maggie, my best friend, who always seemed to have it all. She had an air of confidence and ease that I admired. I couldn't help but envy her life. She was popular, wealthy, and seemed to effortlessly pass through life, doing whatever she pleased. I always wanted to be like her, free from the shackles of others expectations, and from the constant whispers in my head about finding the nuts and bolts of life.
One day, as Maggie and I were sitting in the school playground during lunch break, I mustered the courage to share my feelings with her. I confessed how suffocated I felt by the expectations of others, and how I yearned for the freedom to be myself without the constant pressure to fit into someone else's mold of success. I was already losing it as I explained to her how I just wanted to be me, and be free from the pressures from people around me especially my teachers.
To my surprise, Maggie listened intently, her eyes filled with understanding.
"You know, Mary," she said gently, I may seem like I have it all together, but everyone has their struggles. Success means different things to different people. For some, it's about wealth and popularity, but for others, it's about finding their own path, embracing their uniqueness, and living life on their own terms."
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Her words sit well with me, giving me a ray of hope. Maybe I didn't have to follow the same conventional path that everyone seemed to expect of me. Maybe there was another way to define my success, one that aligned with my true self. With Maggie's support, I started exploring my passions and interests, discovering the things that truly made me happy.
As I continued to discover my hobbies and interests, I found my voice gradually becoming stronger, drowning out the whispers of others. I began to understand that success was a personal journey, unique to each individual. It wasn't about conforming to society's expectations and standards but about embracing my authentic self and pursuing my dreams with determination and hard work
In the following years, I continued to nurture my passions, gaining confidence with each step I took. I surrounded myself with people who uplifted me and supported my aspirations. Over time, I discovered my own nuts and bolts of life – the elements that made me feel whole and fulfilled.
Looking back, I realized that true success comes from within, from embracing my individuality and pursuing my dreams with confidence. I had learned to silence the voices that once haunted me, finding the strength to carve my own path in life. As I stood tall, embracing my identity as a girl, I knew that I had finally found my way to succeed on my own terms. I even wrote a poem and it became my favorite because it reminded me of how I broke free from the bondage of pressure.
In whispers, they told me to find the key,
To unlock the door to what I should be.
In their voices, I lost my own,
A soul adrift, so far from home.
Amidst the crowd, I met a friend,
Whose understanding helped me mend.
She said, "Mary, let your spirit soar,
Your dreams, your passions, at the core."
I yearned to break the suffocating ties,
To reach for the limitless, boundless skies.
With every step, I found my voice,
In the symphony of my own choice.
No longer haunted by others' decrees,
I embraced my truth, wild and free.
In the dance of life, I found my song,
In being me, I truly belong.
So here I stand, strong and proud,
A girl unchained, her spirit unbowed
For in the depths of my own soul,
I found the nuts and bolts, making me whole
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