One day, I caught myself comparing my life with those around me — a friend had already moved into the house of her dreams, a colleague had opened a business, and an acquaintance was posting photos from her third honeymoon. Sound familiar? Instead of rejoicing at my successes, I started thinking, “What’s wrong with me? Why am I not where they are?” And you know, this feeling was exhausting me.

But one day I realized one important truth: our life is not a competition, but a unique marathon, where the main competitor is yourself.

The myth of the "correct life schedule"
It seems that somewhere there is an invisible script written: by 30 you need to get married (with a beautiful ring, of course), by 35 have two children, and also build a career and become an ideal housewife. If you deviate from this "schedule", you immediately feel somehow wrong.

But the truth is that there is no ideal time. You decide when and what chapters to write in your life. One of my friends went to school at 40 and is now doing what inspires her, and another jumped with a parachute for the first time at 50 and said that it was the best decision in her life.

Your speed - your rules
Some people run sprints: they achieved quick success, but then feel burnt out. And someone chooses to jog, slowly and confidently getting to the desired result.

When I realized that my life is my pace, a lot changed. I learned to enjoy the little things: evening tea with a book, an unexpected day without work, a frank conversation with a close friend.

Comparison kills motivation
We often see only the external side of other people's lives: beautiful vacation photos, success stories. But you don't know how much effort, worries and tears were behind it. Instead of chasing someone, compare yourself with yourself yesterday. This is the only comparison that really motivates.

Life is not a race where the finish line is important, but an endless adventure where every step is valuable. Remember: your marathon is unique. A good morning, sincere laughter or even just a hot cup of coffee can be significant victories.

The next time you are visited by thoughts about someone ahead, ask yourself: "What is happiness for me at this moment?" And run at your own pace. 🌟

👉 For thought: Life is not a struggle, but a dance. Choose the music that sounds for you. 💃