Yeah, I see you; mocking every move we hustlers make. You spend so much time analysing our lives, when do you spend time on yours? Truth is, you’re the very reason why the person you undermine and underestimate ends up on top. You think too much of yourself: get off your high horse! The way you celebrate my downfall gets to me. I mean, what is wrong with you? I see talented boys and girls giving up on their dreams because of you!

I see too many people with regrets because of you! Ain’t it funny how much of an impact you have on my life even though you contribute nothing to it? Funny? No, it’s more ironic. Life is as messed up as the person inside me. How easy would it be to just quit and give up after all these sweat and tears? I always wonder how life would be without challenges and setbacks. Would we learn? Grow? Be stronger?

The issue with success is time. People see others making it before them and think they weren’t destined for greatness. Remember that they will get the biggest shock of their lives when you thrive after they stepped on you to get to the top. My man, just don’t listen to them. Young girl, you hear me? They wanna convince you that your goals are insurmountable, and that you’ll never make it. All you gotta do is remind yourself why you do what you do. It may take years, but what matters is the journey.

A journey filled with tears, pain, sorrow, challenges, and setbacks will make the destination even more worth it. Try keeping your plans to yourself – not everyone will be happy for your growth. It’s not easy to keep up the faith after too many disappointments. You become so pissed off that you wonder who created this world and where are they? You look around and see others having smooth journeys and you feel rejected: rejected by success, rejected by happiness. Hard work doesn’t always pay off, so how do you keep on going? Well, if I tell you then I’ll be the same as them. It’s your journey; travel it.

You seldom listen to motivational talks and stories because they don’t move you, they don’t shake you. Why? Because the people who give them are wealthy and successful, so you don’t get to see their struggle. I just want you to know that you’re different, and as cliché as it may sound, don’t give up on your dreams.

Without commitment you’ll never start, and without consistency you’ll never finish. If you truly believe in something, you don’t need anything to fall back on because you’ll never fail. Always try to be the flower that gives its aroma, even to the hand that crushes it.

Tell us: How do you feel after reading this piece?