The struggle is over...

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 Met with defeat, the moth gave up, succumbing to death. I have also met with defeat, not even placing in the top 8. While numerous groups and individuals jump and scream in excitement as I angrily push against the people, I realized just how could change in a few hours and what defeat could do.  

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Sitting in my seat, waiting for my turn to perform the skill for my event, a voice came from my left. The voice of a girl, (not surprising as everyone else in my event was a girl and I was practically the only guy), "Do you do track?" she asked. To save you from all the dialogue, I had a number on my hand from the meet the day before. We talked about our events and about the skill we were about to perform, we both sarcastically said that we were both going to be last and that I'll place 42 (about last) and she'll place 41. But I knew before she even went in that she was going to do good. Out of everyone there, she was the only one who wasn't reviewing or worried at all, even going as far as to teach me the skills and correct me.

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And you guessed it, she got top 3, actually got placed for nationals. While everyone cheered for their respective friends and events, it would make sense for me to be happy that she did well, which I was, and I later congratulated her. Filled with anger and determination for next year, it came to me that not even 8 hours ago, I was on the golf course, happy and having the time of my life.. Unlike the moth who gave up and waited for death, we as humans, and I, unlike others, pushed on. Back in the rooms, the silence spoke more than words ever could. 

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All of us were disappointed, some getting finalists and some not even placing. Back downstairs, numerous people lined up to get ice-cream and candy, either in happiness or sadness, I stood there realizing how much different we are from the moth. We humans aren't a bead of pure life, we are so much more- fueled by resilience, determination, and even chasing meaning in defeat. Or just like the moth, accepting this defeat and giving up, all this fight and struggle to rise to the stages just to have someone determine the fate of "the extraordinary efforts made by those tiny legs."

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The next morning, I was the first one to wake up, the only one in the pool swimming laps, just before we were going to leave. The only one in the gym. Yes, the struggle is over, we don't have to try anymore, but this is what makes us humans, the perseverance despite defeat, the discipline, the...struggle...

I thank god for humbling me and reminding me of my destination, for myself,
not to please others. 

Comments

  1. Hamza ShaikApril 20, 2025 at 5:12 PM

    I really like how you took on a complete 180-perspective compared to Wolfe as she had tried to link us to the moth, and make us realize that we are all succumbing to an inevitable death that no one can avoid ultimately. However, you explained that what separates us from the moth is our attributes: the perseverance, determination, discipline, etc. In my opinion, you make a valid argument, but so does Wolfe, so I going to have to qualify with you to an extent on your take about the relationship between humans and the connection we share with life and death.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ayaan DeolApril 20, 2025 at 9:23 PM

    I like how rather than telling a detailed story about something we may not have noticed, you chose to tell a story that we could more easily relate to and comprehend. However, I think you were too focused on the moth dying compared to your own life, as there wasn't exactly a connection between the two ideas to make an argument.

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