Rocky Balboa. Everyone knows him, yes? The Rocky movies show us one simple truth: When you have nothing to lose, you give it your all. And when the odds are stacked against you, you take a shot, putting everything on the line.
Till a few weeks ago, I thought these were empty words which I couldn't relate to. But, it all changed. I've always been one to make my own way, education or career. I didn't make my decisions because everyone else was doing it or because it seemed the simplest thing. I did so because I really wanted to do that. All my decisions till now have been the same. But, I did not achieve the success I believed I was due, and I gave up on myself. I was contemplating a workaday job and a life in which I'd have no interest. Just because nothing was going my way. No other reason. I can't take so much emotional abuse nonstop from the whole world. If I put in effort, I need results or what is it all worth?
Solid reasoning, flawless logic, thought I. But, there was someone who could one-up my self sufficient rationalization. My father, a man whom I'll never be able to be grateful enough to. I'd just returned from working in Delhi for a year, with nothing to get into for my next career step. All my life, I'd advocated competition and a fair system of 'if you want it, earn it.', but what I had to realize was that I myself never followed it. I'd become the sort of person whom I despise the most: a hypocrite. But, my father sat me down and explained that even though things don't go your way, you don't give up. Because if you do, that's the end of your journey right there. The time we have on this world is limited as it is, why would you want to cut it short?
Turns out, all those years of dependence and skirting by took away the part of myself which was my source of confidence and security. I was paranoid about how I'd feel if I failed one more time and was using it as an excuse to stay away from competition. My father realized what I'd need: a reset. On life, on my career, on how I think and do things, on everything. And that was exactly what he suggested: an exam. Not just any exam, one of the toughest exams out there. If I would give it my all, I'd get a fresh start on my career, I'd start believing myself again and above all, I'd be moving forward in life. I put myself on 'pause' a few years ago and this would be the reset.
I did just that. I picked myself up and fought just another round. I committed myself fully to the task at hand, after a long long time and gave it my all. I do not wish to divulge the results but I will say this; Hard work and Persistence give results. No matter how long you have to work, and no matter how hard, as long as you do not give up, things will fall into place. Why? Because they have to. That's the order of things. It just is, much like how you don't get jack if you don't work.
Hell, if I can score well enough in a math based exam, anyone can achieve anything.All those clichés about how you can tunnel through even mountains if you keep digging, they're unequivocally true. I realized the most important lesson of my life because of two reasons: One- I accepted that I wanted to. Two- I tried my best.
I will leave you guys with just this: As long as you don't stop working hard, good things will come your way. Make of that what you will.
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