Museum of failure or Gallery of trying?

Have you ever stood in front of a mirror, not just to see your reflection, but to really look at yourself? The person behind the eyes, carrying the weight of dreams and doubts? You see yourself, not just your face, but the hidden emotions, the choices, and the struggles that shape who you are.

It’s a question that might seem strange: Is life a museum of failures or a gallery of trying? After all, you can’t really fail until you try, but trying can be hard, especially when it feels like the world only sees your mistakes.

There were days when each morning felt like carrying a bag of boulders uphill. Every step was heavy, and every decision weighed down by the fear of falling (failing) again. Even getting out of bed felt like an achievement. In those moments, I’d ask myself: “Is this where I stop? Have I reached the end of my rope? Did I fail? Should I just give up?” It’s okay to feel lost when life feels heavy and you don’t see your path clearly.

But here’s the thing: in today’s world, success is more visible than ever, while failure often remains in the background, and that skews our perception. We’re surrounded by stories of people who have “made it,” who are living their dreams. This can lead us to overestimate our chances of success, believing that it’s just around the corner. But the reality is far more complex.

Behind every successful entrepreneur, there are a hundred whose products didn’t sell. And behind them, another hundred who had an idea and a prototype but couldn’t secure funding. And still behind each one of them are countless who dream of one day starting their own business but haven’t taken the first step.

We often hear about people who succeed, like the stories of someone overcoming huge odds to achieve something great. These stories are inspiring, but they can also make us think that success is just a matter of hard work. What we don’t always see are the challenges, the lack of support, and the small chances that play a big role in those successes.

We celebrate the few who manage to overcome the odds but overlook the many who work just as hard yet can’t break through due to systemic challenges. The truth is, the chance of achieving what society calls “success” is often very slim. Success is a moving target, and it’s easier to judge from the sidelines than to understand the full picture.

Success isn’t just about hard work, it’s effort, persistence, timing, and sometimes just plain luck. And sometimes, it’s also just about having someone believe in you. Failure, on the other hand, isn’t a dead end; it’s part of the journey. Each setback is a step toward understanding what works and what doesn’t.

What I’ve come to understand is that we often have a limited view of what success really is. The things we chase may not always be worth the effort. So, is life a museum of failure or a gallery of trying? Perhaps it’s both. Every failure is a piece of art and with every try, we’re adding to the gallery, creating something that shows our courage and persistence. When you look at yourself, remember that every effort counts, and every try is part of your story.

I might never wear the label of “successful,” but every night, I give myself a pat on the back. I take pride in continuing to strive for what truly matters. And as I look back, I find myself smiling while scrolling through the gallery of my efforts.

The comment that inspired the title

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