Life’s Race

From our childhood, this society always sets an expectation. When a child was born, was expected to walk within one year. If it doesn’t, most people would say “my child started walking in 8 months”. This creates a psychological setback in parents. In the 3rd year, society expects a child to speak an American accent.

After kindergarten, when they start primary school, casual talk between parents, “your child was good at math, but my child yet to learn basics.” Here parent of the second child doesn’t scold the child, but a child who overhears the conversation creates an image in mind that “I am not good at Math” Though it was not done intentionally, in some way, it influenced the child. These days’ parents are very encouraging and supportive, but at times these are unavoidable. So now the child works on math, a child’s strength in English was unattended.

In higher secondary school education, the selection of college education starts here. These days 12th standard students have started researching college courses, career path, in addition to the regular syllabus, IIT/ NEET coaching, coaching for college-specific entrance tests. If the student doesn’t join any coaching, then everyone starts to trigger questions on the student. Student’s life happiness also missed in the race.

After school, stepping out of college without placement lays the next race. So the race starts in the first year of a college education. Gone are those college days.

A well-settled career doesn’t escape you out of the race, Career promotion to Marriage to Family to Good Investors to learning the art of parenting, and goes on. After many years, an inner search shows only the race lane you crossed. Of course, these are positive growth in life’s ladder. Be a marathon runner in the life race, not an athlete. Crossing each stage with full enjoyment creates golden memories.

For women, the race lane was set higher than men. They have to worry about menstruation, beauty, work-life balance, lovable partner, perfect cook, caring mother, respectful daughter in law, etc. The worst expectation is women should enjoy the memes/ jokes which throw fun at them.

In Life’s race, we can be a turtle or rabbit, sometimes fate takes you backward, but progress the race enthusiastically and cheering.