I see a lot of people who like to make it very clear they came from nothing. That they didn't have family money or support. That they truly started from the bottom, now they here (shout out to Drake). And that's admirable for sure. I dig people who create their own success.
Here's the thing. I come from a privileged background. I didn't start from the bottom. I started from a place where I damn well should succeed. I have two loving parents. A very nice home in the burbs. I've never wanted for anything because even in times of struggle, we never worried about where our next meal came from.
I recognize and am thankful for that privilege. A lot of people have to work hard simply because they were born into a different life. But I don't think my success is in any way less impressive or tarnished because I wasn't born into great struggle.
Quite frankly, it's not a competition. My success recognizes your success. I don't have to prove to you that I did this thing any certain way. I don't apologize for having a kick ass support system. My struggles and road blocks are none of your business. My levels of success are none of your business.
I am in full support of recognizing that privilege is a thing. It's actually mind boggling when people claim it's not. I certainly had a bit of an easier go being born white in a middle class world than a black woman born into a low socioeconomic life.
What I won't own is feeling bad for my success. Or feeling like my success means less because of my privilege. Or that I owe someone something for my success because I achieved success in a privileged world.
If you came from nothing and made it big, you damn well yell it from the rooftops. If you came from the elite and worked hard and all your dreams came true, buy a billboard and tell the world.
I want to hear about your success but I want to also hear about where you're going. I want to hear about your success in relation to YOU. Not in relation or compared to someone else. Everyone suffers. Everyone has moments they're at their rock bottom. Everyone's story is different. Money doesn't equal happiness. Being born into great privilege doesn't guarantee your ultimate success. And being born into abject poverty doesn't guarantee your failure.
Define your journey for YOU. Compare your future to where YOU are and where YOU want to go. Your success and failures are a direct result of YOU. YOU. Nobody else but YOU.