I measure myself against people
who don’t even know they’re in a race with me.
Their wins feel louder,
their lives look lighter,
and suddenly my progress feels invisible.
I forget that timelines aren’t universal,
that growth doesn’t look the same on everyone,
that behind every highlight
there’s a story I’ll never see.
Comparison steals joy quietly.
So I’m learning to look forward instead
at my own lane,
my own pace,
my own becoming.
Kids Help Phone (KHP) is honoured to share creative content submitted by youth from coast to coast to coast as they Feel Out Loud with us. We thank the Feel Out Loud Community Creator of this piece for their contribution to youth mental health and well-being in Canada. For more information on the Feel Out Loud Community Creator Space and / or how you can submit your own creative content for possible publication, you can visit the submission page.
