Failure and Disappointment

She grew up as an Achiever. She was her family's biggest pride. She always aimed to bring home the bacon in every contest that she attended. She was a source of inspiration to her siblings. She was a stream of light to her parents.

"I am proud of you."

These words were always spoken to her every time she achieves something. She felt happy and delighted the moment she hears that phrase. She feels like all of her efforts and sacrifices were all worth it because she was able to make those special people in her life proud of her.

She spent all her life making people proud of her. Yet, she wasn't really happy doing so. She was only working it out to reach their expectations. She was living her life in order not to disappoint anyone.

Then she became exhausted when she chose a path that wasn't meant for her. She kept going but she knew deep inside, she was lost. She thought she will be on the right track when she follows where people want her to be, but she was wrong.

Only once in her life did she disobey her parents. For once, she lived her life based on what she thought is right and good for herself. She went on with her decision and stood up with her words.

But what crumples her down is when she chose herself, those people who were once proud of her are now disappointed in her. Everyone thinks she is a failure just because she chose a different path.

Then she began asking her worth. She began questioning if everything she did before to make them proud of her wasn't enough as payment for her to live her own life according to her own terms.

But she sticks with herself. She kept going. She gave her all and did her best just to prove to everyone who doubted her that they are wrong.

She is tired of proving herself to everybody. She knows she can't please everyone yet she tries even harder just to prove that her decision was right.

While other people thought that she was lost in the wrong direction, she believed that she is exactly on the right track that will lead her to her destination.

She went on with her life. She was alone but she wasn't lonely. She lived her life the way she wants it to be. Nobody was there with her but herself.

She endured the sleepless nights and early mornings. She hustled all day and all night trying to reach all the dreams she set for herself.

As she climbs up to the ladder of her success, she is slowly seeing the light and reaching the top. As she struggles on her way up, those people who were once proud and became disappointed, are slowly being proud of her- again.

Then she became successful with the kind of Success she defined for herself. Success to her was living her life with a purpose. And her purpose was to touch the lives of others. Her purpose was to conquer her fear of disappointing everyone around her. And she did that when she chose herself for the first time.

She is Mia, and Mia is me. Mia is not just me but it can also be you.

This is a story of those people who were treated as a failure and disappointment just because they chose not to fit in with what society dictates them to be.

More often than not, if not all, most of us were treated as a failure and disappointment just because we traveled to a different road.

We became failures when we couldn't meet the expectations of our parents, friends, relatives, or even strangers who don't even contribute anything to our lives. We became a disappointment when we no longer give in to their demands.

But we are not failures nor disappointments. We are a work in progress. We are our own masterpieces.

We may fail others but we should not fail ourselves. There is nothing wrong with living the life you wanted as long as it makes you happy and you are not stepping on anyone. Never will it be a mistake when you choose yourself first before others. So go out there and live your life according to your terms.