Underdog
All my life I’ve been an underdog. It’s the reason I can’t help but tear up at Golden Buzzer Britain’s Got Talent videos.
Something about people who didn’t think they could make it getting the shot they dreamed of, just hits home every time.
I mean I do also happen to be a big softie, but that’s beside the point.
I grew up in a low-income area to a single parent of four kids. Statistics tell me I wasn’t supposed to make it or be successful.
I actually googled the odds recently, and it turns out as a black caribbean low-income kid, apparently I had a 33% shot at just attending university.
So I can’t help but wonder how small my odds would have been at getting a full scholarship to a university in the US?
Or playing 15 games for England’s youth teams?
Or getting a professional football contract?
I can be incredibly hard on myself at times. And think less of myself for not getting a distinction in my coursework, or no longer playing for England or not being in the starting 11?
And then I zoom out and realise that statistically I’m not even meant to be worrying about these things.
The reality is that we’re all in a race but it doesn’t mean that we all start at the same line.
And I don’t say that in a woe is me way, everyone has fought battles and overcome obstacles that we don’t know about.
I say it as a reminder that sometimes we get so caught up on the results of the race and comparing ourselves to the other racers that we forget two very crucial things:
You don’t start at the same point as everyone else.
Whatever happens in the race, you should still be proud of the everything you’ve had to overcome to get you to the starting line in the first place. Proud of the fact you’re even running the race.
I read a book recently that had a great quote in it: “ your worth isn’t dictated by what you do, but instead who you are”
And it reminded me of the fact that success will come and go, but what matters so much more is if you’re proud of the person you’re becoming in the process.
I’m grateful to say that I am!
Thanks for reading and all my love,
Paris
P.S. This one was for anyone who is way too hard on themselves. You’re doing great!