Fwd: Run your own race !

[R V Rao]

Life' lesson , a bit lengthy but with lot of essence. Pl read once more.

I was jogging this morning and I noticed a person about half a km ahead. 

I could guess he was running a little slower than me and that made me feel good, 

I said to myself I will try catch up with him.

So I started running faster and faster. Every block, I was gaining on him a little bit. 

After just a few minutes I was only about 100 feet behind him, 

so I really picked up the pace and pushed myself. 

I was determined to catch up with him.

Finally, I did it! I caught up and passed him. Inwardly I felt very good. "I beat him". 

Of course, he didn't even know we were racing. 

After I passed him, 

I realized I had been so focused on competing against him that 

*I had missed my turn to my house* .

I had missed the focus on my inner peace, 

I missed to see the beauty of greenery around, 

I missed to do my inner soul searching meditation, 

and in the needless hurry stumbled and slipped twice or thrice and might have hit the sidewalk and broken a limb.

It then dawned on me, isn't that what happens in life when we focus on competing with 

co-workers, neighbours, 

friends, 

family, 

trying to outdo them 

or trying to prove that we are more successful 

or more important and in the bargain 

we miss on our happiness within our own surroundings?

We spend our time and energy running after them and we miss out on our own paths to our given destination. 

The problem with unhealthy competition is that it's a never ending cycle.

There will always be somebody ahead of you, 

someone with a better job, 

nicer car, 

more money in the bank, 

more education, 

a prettier wife, 

a more handsome husband, 

better behaved children, 

better circumstances and 

better conditions etc.

 

But one important realisation is that *'You can be the best that you can be, when you are not competing with anyone.'*

Some people are insecure because they pay too much attention to 

what others are, 

where others are going, 

wearing and driving, what others are talking.  

*Take whatever you have*, 

the height, the weight and personality.  Accept it and realize, that you are blessed. Stay focused and live a healthy life. 

*There is no competition in Destiny. Each has his own.*

Comparison AND Competition  is the thief of JOY. 

It kills the Joy of Living your Own Life.

*Run your own Race that leads to Peaceful, Happy Steady Life.*

[Seshadri Vellimedu]

Good moral.

Thanks for sharing.

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[R V Rao]

 After knowing what PYT means through Google, I had a hearty laugh. This happens to many ( including me ) at any age after adolescence. 

Thanks Sir.

On Wed, 12 Nov, 2025, 5:04 pm Rangarajan T.N.C., <tncran...@yahoo.com> wrote:

For your eyes only

I was reminded of the time when I was walking from the bus stop to my office in Catholic Centre in Armenian street, a PYT was walking ahead of me and unconsciously I followed unaware that I had walked beyond my office until at the end of the street she vanished into a bylane!

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[Dr Sundar]

Hahha t

A good learning  out of PYT.  ...a nice thing 

Namaskaram 

"KNOW THYSELF .

SELF KNOWLEDGE IS REAL KNOWLEDGE.

ALL OTHER KNOWLEDGE IS IGNORANCE AND THEY ARE NO  KNOWLEDGE  "   

~~~ Bhagavan Ramana

     

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[Markendeya Yeddanapudi]

RV Rao Sir,

As usual you make your insights humor laden and insightful.I have been writing that from childhood on we hurry and speed up the child in their education and growth.When you simply rush and race you miss the wonders on the way.In a way we are rushing children into early retirement.

YMS

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Mar

[Rajaram Krishnamurthy]

PYT

       The song of Michael Jackson on PYT Listen or dance KR IRS 131125

        The feeling that "life is a race today" stems from a combination of deeply ingrained societal expectations, economic pressures, constant social comparison (especially through social media), and an always-on culture.

Societal Conditioning: From a young age, individuals are often taught they must compete to succeed, whether for grades in school, a spot in a top university, or a job promotion. This narrative sets up life as a series of competitions where one must always strive to be "first".

Economic and Survival Pressures: The need for financial security and a comfortable standard of living drives many people to constantly work harder and faster. For some, this isn't about getting ahead, but simply about survival and ensuring opportunities don't pass them by in a competitive job market.

Social Comparison and Media Influence: Social media in particular has created an environment where people constantly compare their lives to the "highlight reels" of others. This generates a sense of urgency and the fear of "being left behind" if they pause or move at their own pace, leading to a focus on external validation like the "perfect job, the perfect house".

The Illusion of the Finish Line: People often run relentlessly towards a perceived finish line—success, happiness, or security—only to find it moves further away once a milestone is achieved. This perpetual pursuit means every completed goal becomes the starting point of another race, making the feeling of a never-ending sprint a constant part of modern life.

The Pace of Modernity: The rapid pace of technological change and an "always-on" work culture can make people feel a constant sense of urgency and that time is going by quickly.

Many philosophical and self-help perspectives suggest that life is not inherently a race, but a unique journey or experience to be lived at one's own pace. They argue that focusing on comparison and a "finish line" can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, and a failure to appreciate the present moment and personal growth. Ultimately, whether life feels like a race or a journey depends heavily on an individual's mindset, priorities, and personal circumstances. Shifting the focus from competing with others to personal growth and enjoying the process is a common recommendation for finding more fulfillment.

          Life is certainly competitive. Fight or die. “Well I believe, if one enjoys the competition then one should really take life as a race”. Life is like a race, you keep on running. You try to get as fast as possible however, it is the special race , it’s a race against time , not everyone can run long time, some have many years left , some may have minutes , but the point is running as fast as you can before your time runs out.  Life is quite a long journey. You learn at each and every step. If you try to be very fast at beginning the chances are that you will be very late at the end. You need lot and lots of practice and a long marathon to be a good marathon runner but in sprint you can be fast but only for a short period. Sometimes you have to sprint in your life to feel yourself and your position. From marathon you can learn that everything is possible in life. The day you realize that your setbacks are not the ending moreover it’s a beginning of your race, that day you turn out to be successful in awaking the victor inside of you. Embrace all the setbacks, fears and rejections, embrace all of it and push on. Because the moment you give up, it’s the same as you stopping in the marathon just because you shoelace came off. What you want is the goal in the end. Not fasters then others so persevere on and make the most out of every day. “steve jobs asked himself one question every day. If today were the last day of my life, would I want to be doing the same what I would going to”

                 YES WHY GRANDPARENTS ARE TIED TO GRAND CHILDREN BUT NOT THAT KIND OF WITH THEIR CHILDREN? I THOUGHT OVER. I WENT ALONG WITTH MY SON AND DAUGHTER AS BABIES AND KIDS; DID ALL; RAN ALONG WITH THEM; BUT NEVER AS AN OBSERVER AS MY INDIVIDUAL RACE TIME WAS LIMITED AND THE RACE WAS RUN ONLY FOR THEM. SO, I DID NOT WATCH THEIR GIGGLE, SMILE OR SPRAWLING OVER THEIR OWN FERACES UNMINDFUL TO CLEAN; I WAS THINKING ONLY MY, OUR, AND THEIR GROWTH; GOT EVERYTHING THAT ARE /WERE NEEDED. THEN TILL GOT THEM MARRIED AND SENT THEM AWAY, ONLY I FELT THAT THE SPACIOUS HOME OF THEIRS WAS SO EMPTY ECHOING.  But now I am resting; my job is being fulfilled by my children; i/we need not do anything; so time which pushed me once, now says it is 7 AM and 7 01 AM looks after half an hour. So my grand kids are visible to our perceptions which my children do not. YOU RAN AALL THE WAY AND DID NOT WRITE THESE THEN; WHY? ONLY OLDIES DO WRITE SUCH AND HENCE YOUTHS IGNORE THEM AND OTHER OLD LAUGHS. RCE IS A MUST; IF YOU WANT TO BE STABLE “KEEP JUMPING AT THE SAME PLACE” ATLEAST. ON THE CONTRARY, IF YOU ARE SMART ENOUGH TO BECOME NISHKAMYA AT AGE 7 ITSELF THROW YOUR BOOKS AND BECOME ABN AGHORI. THERE IS NOTHING IN BETWEEN. THINK GOD FOR THE INVENTION OF HIS MACHINERY RUNNING SO SMART FOR SO MANY YEARS WITH THE RACE.

K RAJARAM IRS 131125

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