You Are the Dream They Fought and Suffered For
They dreamed of a better life - you are living it
Your ancestors sacrificed themselves so that you could have opportunity, freedom and the chance to become your best self.
They worked, they struggled, and they suffered — all so their children could have a good life.
Like the other day, my dad told me how much he wished he could have taken me on more holidays when I was younger. But without his hard work I wouldn’t have had the privilege of an education and career which let me to go on as many holidays and adventures as I want. Holidays and adventures that he and my mother never got.
I realised that my privileges are a product of my parents’ sacrifices. And that even their positions were a product of their parents’ sacrifices, and so on.
One day, you wake up and realise that your parents don’t give you their coat because they are warm — they give it to you because they are willing to be cold if it means you will be warm.
But why? Why did they do all that for us? Why did my parents, their parents, and all the ancestors before us sacrifice themselves in hopes that somewhere — thousands of years — down the line, some version of their genetic pool would be better off?
Why did they starve, hunt, freeze, sweat and bleed in hopes that one day, one of their offspring would have a good life?
Survival maybe? Evolution?
Whatever the reason, it was all for you.
The Responsibility of Opportunity
“We are our ancestors’ wildest dreams.” — Ava DuVernay
The story of Kevin Durant — NBA Superstar
Kevin Durant, and his brother Tony, were raised by their mother, Wanda Durant, in Prince George’s County, Maryland. His father left when he was a baby, and Wanda was 21.
Life was hard. They didn’t always know where their next meal was coming from. Wanda sacrificed her own needs just to make sure her boys had what they needed.
She worked long hours at multiple jobs so that Kevin and Tony could afford to play basketball. She drove Kevin to games, paid for tournaments they couldn’t afford, and made sure he always had a warm meal after practice.
When Durant won NBA MVP in 2014, he delivered an emotional speech through tears as he looked at his mother in the crowd:
“We wasn’t supposed to be here. You made us believe. You kept us off the street. You put clothes on our backs, food on the table. When you didn’t eat, you made sure we ate. You went to sleep hungry. You sacrificed for us. You the real MVP.”
(Full speech here below)
And think of all the things that the people before Wanda had to endure, to sacrifice. You can go back generations and the sacrifices become larger and more painful.
All for the golden child to succeed, and to not only have wealth for his family, but for generations to come. He created a legacy of his own, inspiring millions of people around the world, off the back of the sacrifices of his family.
The generations of people currently alive are the product of thousands of years of sacrifice, hardship and suffering — they are the ball of potential.
You are like Kevin, and your ancestors have made sacrifices that have all lead to your life.
Don’t think of your life as a burden, think of it as an opportunity that millions have died for.
No pressure :~)
All your ancestors have let go — let themselves fall into the abyss — so that your climb could be a little bit lighter, so that you could be the one who takes the family lineage to the promise land.
So…
What will you do with that opportunity?
“We stand on the sacrifices of a million women before us, thinking, ‘What can I do to make this mountain taller, so the women after me can see farther?’” — Rupi Kaur
When you’re conscious that all the generations before you gave everything for your freedom, what will you do?
Will you live a mediocre life because everyone else is, or will you make something of yourself, create something to better the future of your family and society?
Will you focus on all the negative things in your life and make excuses, or will you feel gratitude for the sacrifices made, cherish the good things in your life
Will you waste away feeling sorry for yourself, or will you realise your potential and fertilise your seed of opportunity?
Will you conform and be boring even though they’ve given everything so that you have free choice, or will you honour it by living life on your terms?
Whenever you feel unmotivated to pursue your dreams, to do anything difficult with your life — remember how complicated the history of your family has been, and how it has all lead to you.
Take advantage of the good. Brush aside the bad. Make something of yourself. Honour your lineage, and the sacrifices that were made — and they didn’t even know you.
They sacrificed themselves, just for the potential.
You are that potential.
So good turn it into something worthwhile.
“The best way to honor the past is to build a future worthy of it.” — Unknown
Sincerely,
eren
Follow me on Substack and LinkedIn for short bursts of motivation and peace, and to follow along on my journey of creating the world’s best in-person mindset workshop.
Oh, lovely! We must respect the freedom we got & use it to the best of our potential.