Glorification Game

As I was browsing through online news, I came across a post about an Olympic winner. The story was 95% about his struggles—how he came from a humble background, the son of a farmer who had barely enough to eat, with a mother working as a daily wage laborer. Despite lacking resources and formal education, he persevered, sleeping on the streets, working tirelessly, and ultimately becoming a successful athlete. Only 5% of the story focused on his actual achievements.

My father often used to say, "We didn't have electricity, walked for miles to go to school, and studied by oil lamps." As a child, this story had a strong influence on me. However, it made me reflect: while I’m fortunate to have electricity, I can't go back in time to study by the?lamp, and I certainly didn't put any less effort into my studies than he did. We used to have some amusing conversations about it.

This got me thinking about the kinds of stories we celebrate, especially on social media. Posts that receive the most likes and attention often focus on overcoming adversity—stories of people triumphing against the odds. These tales resonate with us deeply. But that’s only one side of the narrative. Sounds familiar, right? Stories of how someone reached 100 from zero but what about stories that take someone from 100 to a 100,000.

We tend to celebrate those who come from difficult circumstances, seeing their success as a testament to overcoming hardship. But who defines what a struggle is? And why do we often ignore those who come from affluent backgrounds but still put in the same level of effort and dedication?

Everyone fights their own battles—whether born into fields or fortune

Think about it—if someone didn’t have to ride a bicycle to cricket practice but was driven in a car, does that mean they worked any less to be an international player? Not at all. Both individuals could have put in the same level of passion, commitment, and sleepless nights to achieve their goals. Yet, for some reason, society tends to applaud the efforts of someone from a humble background and overlooks the struggles of those who come from privilege.

Success and struggle come in many forms, and all deserve acknowledgment. Whether someone started with nothing or everything, the effort and determination they put in are what truly matter.

The journey from a bullock cart to a BMW might seem more heroic, but the journey from a BMW to a Boeing takes just as much hard work.

The journey from a bullock cart to a BMW might seem more heroic, but the journey from a BMW to a Boeing takes just as much hard work. Yet, the latter often goes unappreciated. Even if someone from an affluent background spent countless sleepless nights, worked relentlessly, and endured their own struggles, their efforts are often dismissed simply because they didn’t face financial hardship.

People from affluent backgrounds often face greater pressure to prove themselves and perform at higher levels. They are aware that, to receive the same recognition, they must work twice as hard as those from more humble beginnings, as society tends to judge them through a different lens.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t admire those who rise from humble beginnings—those stories are indeed inspiring. But we also shouldn’t diminish the efforts of those who come from affluence. Every journey, every challenge, and every achievement deserves recognition, no matter where it begins.

Challenges Faced by Individuals from Affluent Families

1. Constant Public Judgment: They are frequently subject to scrutiny, with people often feeling entitled to comment publicly on their lives.
2. Heightened Pressure to Prove Themselves: They must work twice as hard because their achievements are often overshadowed by the legacies of their predecessors and family background.
3. Undermined Efforts: Their hard work is often dismissed with assumptions that success comes easy for them, and they are more likely to be compared unfavourably to others rather than acknowledged for their own merits.

?

When reflecting on someone’s achievements or engaging with individuals from different generations, pause to consider the effort behind their journey before either glorifying or downplaying it. Studying at Harvard demands no less dedication than studying by the light of an oil lamp. Just as crossing a river to attend school is a circumstance beyond one’s control, so too is inheriting an empire. In the arena of life, everyone is fighting their own battles—whether as the child of a farmer or the child of a BMW owner. The path from a bullock cart to a BMW can be as challenging as the journey from a BMW to a Boeing.

Glorification is a game we see through the shades we wear. - Neetu Choudhary

?

I hope you enjoyed a different shade of life through this newsletter, please share it with someone you care about.

Neetu Choudhary