The Race of Life

I whole-heartedly believe in the unequivocal concept that every human being is born at the start of something which I call ‘the race of life.’ This ‘race of life’ (which for practical purposes I shall hereby refer to as ROL) begins the second a person is born, and finishes at the height of ones success. The endpoint to all one has struggled in life to achieve, that point where one can look down at his feet and realise the world is at it. Every one of us is born at the start of this race and every one of us, in equal measure, has the ability to reach the finish line. There are a million different routes to get there, and we have a million options before us, guiding and willing us towards that end - like a magnetic force from the universe pulling us towards what we deem as our destiny. There are, however, external variables which impinge on our perception of our capacity to reach it. 

Despite the fact that our birth places us firmly in the same continuum which levels us equally at the start of the race, we are not holding hands whilst uniformly jogging at a leisurely pace towards the same destination. Of course, due to variability in character, personality and desires, we are all running at different speeds towards different ends. Success, however, and our perceptions of the end of ROL are completely subjective, and are measured by our own assessments. For example, if my friend, ‘Sarah’ believes that her sole purpose in life is to produce plastic cups and observe them as they progress down a factory conveyor-belt, that then, is the end to her ROL. Regardless of how another measures this level of ‘success’. My personal ambitions may impeach on her self-evaluation, because they are greater or slighter than her private agenda of ‘success’, but it is ultimately the recognition of her own potential that determines the end of ROL for her. If that is forgotten, then we once again sit awkwardly on the side lines of the race and are no longer a part of it. 

Some of us have an easier means of sprinting ahead in the ROL, and quite possibly gliding through it without turmoil or discord, depending on certain variables. For example, some are born into families of the upper echelon of society, which can mean a more seamless transition into success and fortune, pertaining to nepotism and other such advantages. Luck is also quintessential to getting the leg up that we are all strive towards, and a thousand other reasons that divide us infinitely in the ROL. The point is, however, that we are all capable of reaching that end, regardless of the means and irrespective of a starting shove in the right direction, but some of us just have to work a lot harder to get there. 

There is no such thing as being exempt from the race. This can only occur if one fathoms the notion of ‘can’t’. ‘Can’t’ is a myth that has been circling human minds for as long as we came into existence, and is one of the greatest factors contributing towards failure. Developing the notion of ‘can’t’ ultimately renders one inept and life is promptly summoned to throw you off course. It’s easy to assume there was an obstruction waiting at the next turn, but much harder to grapple with the idea that you put it their yourself. The theory of ‘can’t’ is often concurred through the demoralizing process of comparison. One compares themselves to somebody who stands successfully at the endpoint of their very same destination, realises they have not emulated that route verbatim, and then throws their hands up in the air and says ‘I give up.’ There is no such thing as the same road to the same destination. There are too many millions of variables in life to possibly recreate the same exact scenario for two different people. There are, instead, a million different roads to the same destination, each as legitimate as the other, each uniquely and inimitably designed for a specific individual, and a billion of them lay before you. The second you begin to doubt the road that you’ve been sweating, bleeding and crying on for so long, you quickly fabricate this debasing notion of ‘can’t’, thus rendering you tersely out of the race and back to square one. How is it possible to meet the end of the ROL when you don’t even see yourself as a part of it? The only means of pushing forward and unto that end is to keep believing that your road will take you there. 

‘God’ and ‘fate’ are also two common culprits which universally encroach on our esteemed opinion of ourselves. Namely, these fatuous ideas are used to satisfy a disconcerting belief that some of us were born inferior and are lesser configured for success. Conceding that you are not designed for success is most certainty an easy option, because it eliminates you as the sole custodian of your own fate, and positions it comfortably into a celestial being. This effectively exonerates you of the responsibility of blame and creates a suitable forum for apathy and redundancy. We concede that being unproductive is okay because we don’t know any better, and are incapable of being better. This endorsement in lavish idleness begins as a small pond that eventually streams into an ocean of regret. It’s never too late or too soon to get back into the race, but there is no end in sight until we believe there is, in fact, an end in sight. 

There are many people who have been indisputably successful in life, for richer or poorer. There is only one thing separating these people from those of a lesser fortune, and that’s perseverance. Nothing ever has, and nothing ever will come close to the sheer importance of perseverance. Being thrown off the track is a blunder, but you get back on it. The longing to give up will never recede but you carry on anyway. Because that is the definition of perseverance. Ultimately, it is the power of the mind and its ability to stay on track which determines whether or not we do just that. Whether we action our thoughts and continue to the finish line or stop believing and drop out. There are only two options in life, to continue, or to quit. There are only two outcomes in life. To succeed, or to fail. Make your choice. 

- Elica Le Bon - January 2nd 2010