Who wants to be the underdog?

I thoroughly enjoy stories where the protagonist goes through adverse times. When I see how tenacity and willpower are being displayed, it hooks me into a story. It is motivating to see and resonate with a character pushing past hardships to achieve a goal that once seemed impossible. We can all connect with such stories in a way, because we all have our own adversities that we face. 

This trope never gets old. Seeing a pauper going against all odds,  and becoming the prince, at the end of the story. We all have dreams and desires which at times seem out of reach. The question is are we  all on the same footing, to truly identify with the underdog of the stories we  enjoy so much.  We can tend to underestimate ourselves, to the extent that our goals start to seem like over achievements to mimic being underdogs. 

I have realised that there is a culture around me. It undermines the work of those who come from a place of privilege. It gets to the point that those who are seen to be successful, do not get much coverage about whatever advantages they had when they started, when their stories are being told. Everyone loves a rags to riches story because it is not exclusive. 

The moment we talk about how privilege factors to success. We are introducing the conditions and the barriers to entry. This means the dream is not really accessible to everyone. This means one has acknowledge where they are is not entirely based on the merits of their own hard work. In some circles this can be a bit shameful to do as admittance of such boons. 

We are not as underprivileged as we think we are at times. Being alive is an underrated privilege, among many other countless things we can be grateful for, that put us ahead in life. To put that aside or to overlook that can get in the way of our contentment. The race isn't to the swift, it is time and chance that happens to all. It's okay to acknowledge the things one has and doesn't have. 
 

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