Life is not a race

"You’re not late, neither are you behind. If you ever think this, remember that “behind” or “ahead” is relative - so ask yourself, “behind who?”
And the answer is “no one” because you’re in a race of your own and you’re the only runner." - Alma Asinobi.

I was strolling the streets of Twitter when I came across a thread by Alma Asinobi and I decided to write this article based on what I got from the thread.

Source

Life can be a real race sometimes, can't it? Everyone of us is making a sprint toward our objectives while attempting to keep up with the pace of the outside world.. Messages telling us we need to be quicker, stronger, smarter, and better are continuously being thrown at us.. And it can be exhausting.

The fact is, though, that life isn't truly a race.. Who crosses the finish line first or achieves the most is not the important factor.. It's about the journey. The ups and downs, detours and turns, and lessons discovered along the route are what it's all about.

Yes, there are moments when it appears that everyone else is moving forward while we are stalled.
We can think that we're slipping behind or that we're not moving forward.
But, that is only a portion of the voyage.. Everybody moves at their own rate and encounters their own difficulties.
In this race, it's important to remember that we are up against ourselves alone.. It's a race against ourselves.. The difficulty we face as we strive to be the finest versions of ourselves possible is particular to each and every one of us..

So how do we keep going when we're feeling tired or discouraged? How do we keep pushing ourselves to be better?

The first step is to stay focused on our goals. What is it that we want to achieve? What motivates us? By keeping our eyes on the prize, we can stay energized and committed even when the road ahead is rocky.

The second step is to take care of ourselves. We can't be our best selves if we're not taking care of our bodies, minds, and spirits. That means getting enough rest, eating well, and staying active. It also entails making time for the things we enjoy doing, such as spending time with friends and family, engaging in hobbies, or simply finding some quiet time to think.

Finally, it's important to remember that we're not alone in this race. We all need support from time to time, whether that comes from friends, family, or even strangers. Don't be afraid to reach out and ask for help when you need it. And don't forget to offer help to others when you can.

At the end of the day, this race called life is a journey that we're all on together. It's a journey that can be difficult, but it's also full of wonder and beauty.. So keep moving forward, keep learning, and keep growing. You've got this.

Let me end this with another quote from Alma Asinobi
"Remember you’re in a race, but you’re the only runner. It’s not a sprint - it’s a marathon, and you have the rest of your life to complete it.
Don’t judge your level 1 with others’ level 10. You have your whole life ahead of you, and if it wasn’t worth living, you won’t be here."

This is the link to the thread on Twitter
https://twitter.com/almaasinobi/status/1641616450371690496?t=lAiXWkL1YcqVpeA0n3VWTA&s=19