I was an underestimated and impatient little girl growing up, which led to me being misunderstood and even bullied. I felt like I wasn’t good enough to hang out with the popular kids in school because I didn’t play sports or try out for school plays; I just liked reading and writing stories, which eventually made me realize that I wanted to become an writer when I grew up.
I was always a pretty happy kid, but I wasn’t particularly confident in myself. I didn’t know what I was good at, even though my mother told me to be proud of my accomplishments. No matter how many achievements I had, it never seemed like enough for me. I was also impatient. I didn’t want to go to school, I perceived modern education as a means of simply delaying and postponing the experiences of life. This made my parents anxious because they wanted me to go to college and earn my degree.
The hardest part of growing up is knowing that we can’t always have what we want. I realized as a little girl, there were many things I wanted but my parents told me I couldn’t have it. Not only was I disappointed that things didn’t turn out how I planned them to be but also how impatient I was. It wasn’t until later on in life did I realize that patience is something you learn throughout life; not everyone has been gifted with their best trait from birth. Patience isn’t something you’re born with, it’s a quality that’s grown within you over time—and practice makes perfect.
Every so often, someone in a position of authority gives me permission to do something I’m working on. It’s usually a special or exciting moment that changes everything – it’s literally how I became a writer. The thing is, I never actually stopped looking for gatekeepers or other people who might give me permission to go ahead with something I want to do. Now, if I don’t receive permission – which happens frequently – it means that perhaps my idea isn’t interesting enough yet or that there are obstacles or roadblocks in my way.
Those of us who are underestimated are stronger than we look; we know what it’s like to prove people wrong, so we won’t take no for an answer. It also helps us to get more out of life—to enjoy every moment because our time here is limited. We have little tolerance for excuses, not even our own! We live in pursuit of big dreams, knowing that only through hard work can they become reality.
Whatever your dream is, there’s something to be said for turning your longings into action. No one is going to hold your hand. No one is going to do it for you. You have to put in your time, effort, and energy into what you want in life. I’m not saying that everything will be handed to you on a silver platter; I’m just telling you that when you decide what it is that you want, there’s no room for excuses because you can’t change other people. Put in your time, give your best effort, and take responsibility for yourself.
Life is short. It’s also unpredictable, and nobody knows that better than kids. An 8-year-old can’t possibly imagine a world in which she’ll be middle-aged one day—and she probably doesn’t have a lot of patience for adults who try to make her wait. Even though it might not seem like it sometimes, kids know that time goes by quickly. So, remember to live in today—because it’s all we have.
Colophon
The images used in this post came from my family photo album.
Asides
Making The Case For Why I Didn’t Need An Education | It’s Always Better to Keep Your Plans Secret! | Growing Up Introvert | Belong | In Another Set Of Chances I’d Take The Ones I Missed | I’m Going Through Changes
