It’s so tempting to compare ourselves to others. To see who is achieving the goals we also seek to achieve.

But the person who is closer than you to the milestone you’re eyeing... the person that’s over the horizon already... That person started her race before you. Or maybe she’s just faster. Or maybe she started somewhere else, and she is merely crossing your intended path.

But she is not you, and she’s not running your race; she’s running her own race.

* * *

There are people ahead of you, and people behind you. People next to you, too. Everyone has a different pace, and a different journey.

Catching up to the person out in front is a fruitless goal: there’s always someone else even farther ahead. And if you rest thinking you’re well ahead of the pack — that’s a useless comparison too. Besides: bringing yourself to a full stop can make it difficult to begin again.

So don’t compare. Just run your own race. After all, you are the only one who can run it, and it was designed just for you.