I keep thinking—why do we treat life like a race? A race to succeed, to be first, to outpace everyone around us. Somewhere along the way, we forget that not everyone begins at the same starting line, and may be, are not even running the same track.

We all run different races. Some begin on smooth tracks, some on rocky trails, and some with hurdles even before the first step. Yet too often, we look sideways—measuring our pace, our progress, our worth—against someone else’s lane.

But here’s the truth: your starting point is not theirs, and their journey will never be yours.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Every time we compare, we steal the beauty of our own becoming. The milestones that once felt impossible lose their meaning because someone else seems further ahead. We forget that growth is not a race of speed, but of persistence.

Oprah Winfrey once said, “Run the race at your own pace.” And she’s right—because life isn’t about being first, it’s about being faithful to your path.

Think of it this way:

A sunflower blooms under the summer sun. A lotus blossoms quietly at dawn. And the oak takes years to rise — Each beautiful in its own time, none in competition with the other, yet when it does, it stands unshakable.

And remember this: what you’ve achieved today was once only a dream. The goals you’ve reached, the strength you’ve built, the moments you once doubted you could survive, they all felt impossible. And yet, here you are.

Hence the next time you feel the sting of comparison — Pause, look back at where you started. See how far you’ve come. That is your victory.

Because your race is not against anyone else, but against yesterday’s version of you.

And the impossible you dream of today will become your reality tomorrow.

So, a gentle reminder just in case you are worried about anything today- your pace is enough and you’re exactly where you need to be.😊