Tag: Life reflections

The Rookie I Once Was… and the Veteran I’ve Become


Between the fearless rookie and the cautious veteran lies the bridge back to possibility.

There was a time when I was a rookie and those really were my golden days. Back then, every day felt fresh and exciting. I had no baggage, no fear of messing up, and no overthinking. I was just focused on learning, growing, and enjoying the journey.

Friends were always around. They weren’t just people I knew but they were my sounding boards, my stress-busters, my biggest supporters. We shared laughs, and setbacks never felt heavy because there was no past baggage to drag me down. That freedom was the biggest reason my performance was at its peak. I was curious, fearless, and fully present in the moment.

But today, things are different. Over the years, experience has piled up. At first, I thought this would make life easier but it has quietly built walls around me. Every new idea now gets filtered through doubts, old memories, and what-ifs. The excitement to try something new often gets buried under “what if it goes wrong?”

Responsibilities have grown, and the emotional load is heavier. The close circle of friends has thinned; everyone is busy fighting their own battles. And connecting with the younger generation feels almost impossible — our worlds and ways of thinking are too different.

Simple solutions that once worked well are now called outdated. Everything is more complex, more layered, and somehow less human. When I try to rely on my experience, I’m often brushed aside as being “old school,” which only makes me more hesitant.

This cycle has taken a toll on my discipline and consistency. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years and the one thing that quietly grows is procrastination.

It was hard to become successful. Staying sharp and moving forward is even harder. The toughest part? Getting back up and moving again when your mind keeps reminding you of all the things that could go wrong. That invisible weight can hold you back longer than any real setback ever could.

I now feel stuck between who I was and who I’ve become. The rookie in me was fearless, always ready to explore. The experienced me hesitates, overthinks, and gets stuck in old patterns.

Somewhere inside, though, that rookie spirit still exists. I believe it’s waiting for me to let go of the baggage, to stop living in the shadow of the past, and to start moving forward again.

Maybe the real answer isn’t about choosing one side but about keeping the rookie’s hunger alive while using the wisdom I’ve gained.

Because at the end of the day, time will keep moving whether we do or not. But what we do with it — that’s still in our hands.

Why the Safe Route Looks Easy, But the Wild Route Feels Right


I’ve often sat at my desk late into the night, staring at the ceiling and asking myself the same question: Why do opportunities seem to pass me by? I risked it all. I worked long hours that blurred into days, pawned my wealth, missed family events, and took responsibility when no one else would even step up. Meanwhile, job goers clocked in their neat 10-hour shifts, played safe, saved their salaries, bought flats, and went home to sleep peacefully. Some even quit when things got tough, never bothering to look back. And today, they seem more “settled” than me. It almost feels unfair. But life isn’t a cricket match with a clear scoreboard. It’s more like a marathon with different routes — some smooth, some with hidden potholes.

The curse (and gift) of taking responsibility

When you take responsibility, you don’t just carry tasks; you carry dreams — yours and everyone else’s. You become the cushion when things go wrong, the cheerleader when hope runs out, and the punching bag when blame needs a home. You can’t play safe. You can’t say, “It’s not my problem.” You’re too busy turning fires into candles.

Why the hustler looks inconsistent

I used to think I was inconsistent. But looking back, I realize I wasn’t inconsistent — I was simply overloaded. When you’re fighting battles on ten fronts, you lose focus on the main goal. You build, break, restart, pivot. From the outside, it looks like a lack of discipline. From the inside, it’s a survival dance.

Why job goers win small but steady

Job goers? They stuck to one lane. They focused only on their paycheck, not the company’s future. They didn’t risk sleepless nights thinking about client payments or the next big move. They followed a simple formula: do the job, save, buy a house, take a vacation, repeat. And you know what? There’s nothing wrong with that.

But then, what about us?

We choose the path of impact, not just income. We choose unpredictability over comfort. We play the game knowing that some days, the scoreboard doesn’t even exist. We’re not inconsistent — we’re experimental. We’re not unlucky — we’re learning resilience the hard way. We’re not behind — we’re building stories that will echo beyond bank statements.

Job goers may retire with a pension; you’ll retire with a legacy. Choose your prize.

In the end, life isn’t about collecting steady paychecks or safe medals. It’s about staying in the arena, even when the crowd goes silent.