02/02/2026
It used to bother me deeply when friends and family didn’t support me.
I would pour my heart and soul into something, hoping for a kind word, a bit of encouragement, or even just a sign that they noticed my efforts.
But instead, I was met with silence, indifference, or subtle discouragement.
That used to cut me deeply until I came across this quote:
"You know why strangers support you more than people you know?
Because people you know have a hard time accepting that you guys came from the same place, yet they're in the same place."
When I first read that, it was like a light switch went on in my mind.
Suddenly, their lack of support made sense.
It wasn’t that my dreams were unworthy, or my hard work went unnoticed; it was that my growth highlighted their stagnation.
We started from the same background, had the same opportunities (or maybe I even had less), but instead of staying in the same spot, I dared to push forward.
And for some people, that’s uncomfortable to witness.
They remember the old version of me; the one who didn’t know much, who made mistakes, who wasn’t yet confident.
That’s the version they’ve mentally filed away, and accepting that I’ve evolved means they’d have to reframe the way they see me… and maybe even confront why they haven’t evolved themselves.
That’s not easy for everyone to do.
Strangers, on the other hand, don’t have that history with you.
They meet you where you are now.
They see your effort, your courage, and your consistency, without comparing it to a past version of you or to their own life.
Their support often feels more genuine, because it’s free of jealousy, pride, or unspoken competition.
So now, instead of feeling hurt when the people I love don’t cheer me on, I take it as a sign that I’m moving into spaces they can’t yet understand.
I remind myself that my journey is mine alone, and the right people will celebrate it whether they’ve known me for years or just met me yesterday.
And until those close to me are ready to clap, I’ll keep clapping for myself..
Because my progress doesn’t need anyone else’s permission to be valid.
