The weight and the pressure

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I grew up seeing my mom waking up even before the sunrise.

No alarm clock or motivating messages. She had quiet steps on the floor and then the work would start. We never had conversations at our place about finding your purpose in life or chasing dreams with passion. You woke up, you did your job, you went home. It was all very straightforward like that.

I knew this when I was younger. I thought I knew everything but it took me many years to understand the real meaning of her mornings. She wasn't motivated by the energy or power of will but just did it without any recognition or reward besides her pay. I saw her commitment in the early mornings but could hardly understand it.

In my family, there were no encouragements or praises for those who tried and failed. The only one who got praised was the person who succeeded, regardless of the hardships he or she encountered along the way. Those days when there was nothing I could see being built, I knew there were others who were waiting. I am sure that my family at that moment was looking at me and wondering why nothing happened.

When you come from a place like mine, you can imagine how hard it is to be judged by others every day. This pressure is so heavy and I couldn't afford quitting.

That's why I was in the game longer than I probably should have been. The fear of coming back empty-handed was more powerful than anything else. That is how I'll create what I want. It wasn't because of luck or talent. It was all the hard work of everyday practice. My mom taught me what I needed to do and I am following her advice.

My people call those who persevere warriors, there are very few of them. I had to become one, and I have.

That is the price of what I've achieved. And I would gladly pay it again.

_{Posted using SteemX}