FOR THOSE FEELING LEFT OUT IN LIFE...

Have you ever scrolled through your feed, only to find that everyone around you, your friends, colleagues, or even strangers seems to be thriving? 

They’re hitting milestones, achieving their dreams, and living their best lives. 

And you feel genuinely happy for them, you do.

You cheer them on with all your heart.

But then, out of nowhere, that creeping feeling begins to take over. 

It’s subtle at first, but soon, it grows. 

You feel suddenly bad about yourself. 

And you start questioning your path: 

What am I even doing with my life? 

How much time have I wasted? 

Why does it seem so easy for others? 

And the worst question of all: 

Am I the problem?

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparison, especially in today’s world where everyone’s success is constantly on display. 

But here's something you might need to hear right now, let me tell you a story that came across my mind while I was driving along this wide farmland.

From afar, I saw these beautiful grains seemingly dancing and rejoicing with the wind.

It caught my attention so I stopped and took some photos, but upon closer inspection, what seems to be rice, turned out to be just grass.

The grass was tall and full, while the rice plants beneath it were much shorter.

After observing the field, I was able to write a story that might teach us a great lesson about growth and patience.

Here it goes,

The tale of rice and grass: the slow path to purpose

The grass and the rice grew side by side in the same field, each following its own path.

As the days passed, the grass grew effortlessly, rising quickly toward the sky, while the rice remained hidden beneath the earth, growing slowly and quietly.

The grass was proud of its rapid growth. “Look at me! I am taller, faster, and stronger than the rice. It will never catch up!” it would boast.

The rice, though rooted deep in the soil, could not help but feel a pang of jealousy. Why must I grow so slowly? it thought.

I wish I could grow quickly like the grass and be free of this burden of having to bear fruit.

Days turned into weeks, and the rice continued its quiet, steady growth. It took its time, developing strong roots and a sturdy stalk.

The rice would often watch the grass sway in the wind, seemingly carefree, while it remained still, focused on its task.

Slowly but surely, the rice grew taller. Its stalks reached up to the sky, and soon, tiny grains began to form, each one brimming with the promise of nourishment.

The rice was no longer hidden in the soil.

It was standing tall, though it had taken its time to get here.

One day, a farmer came to the field. He harvested the rice, carefully gathering its grains to feed the people.

The grass, on the other hand, had already been trampled underfoot, its blades flattened and forgotten, offering nothing in return for its swift growth.

As the rice was gathered, it realized something profound.

Its slow, steady growth had made it resilient, and now it was fulfilling its true purpose.

The grass, though quick to grow, had little to offer in the end. I may not have grown as fast, the rice thought, but I will feed the world. And that is what I was always meant to do.

The rice understood now that its slow growth, the time it spent developing deep roots and maturing at its own pace, had been exactly what it needed to do in order to fulfill its purpose.

The grass, although fast-growing and effortless, served little purpose beyond mere appearance, and it could easily be overlooked.

In the end, the rice stood tall and proud, not because it had grown quickly, but because it had fulfilled its destiny in its own time.

The grass may have been taller, but the rice would nourish generations to come.

So, what can we take from this?

As Albert Einstein said, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”

Just like the rice, we too must trust our own growth and purpose.

By observing nature, we learn that growth doesn’t happen overnight.

The slow, steady path to maturity, though not always the fastest, is the one that brings the greatest rewards.

It’s about accepting our own pace and purpose in life.

We must not let jealousy of others who seem to achieve things effortlessly cloud our own journey.

Everyone has their own path, and rushing or comparing ourselves to others can prevent us from realizing our full potential.

Growth takes time, and it’s important to trust the process.

Next time you feel down, remember: you’re here for a purpose.

Finding that purpose and making a difference is what matters most.

Take your time.

Although others may seem to have all the luck, we don’t always see what’s happening behind the scenes.

So, just keep cheering for others until your time comes.

Fast isn’t always better, because just as the old saying goes, life isn’t a race.

-Jhamfong

"In silence, you grow steady and true.In your own time, you will shine through." - jhamfong

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