A Big Fat Thank You to My Haters

In the expansive fabric of existence lies the tapestry of life. Amidst the challenges and triumphs, many awards are due to be bestowed upon people of various categories that helped shape a person. Today's gratitude goes to those who criticized, doubted, and questioned. Given these facts, I extend a big-fat thank you to my haters.

It might seem against common sense to appreciate those who have cast shadows and caused nothing short of disruption and negativity, but taking a deeper look, I've realized that though they've caused harm, they also contributed to my growth. And I will forever be grateful. This letter is addressed to the three categories that won the awards today.

1. To those who pretended.

Being an introverted student was never really good for me. I don't have speech issues but I honestly can't socialize to save my life, well, outside at least. Within my comfort zone, I was as crazy as ever. So basically, I was two-faced. Because I felt it was rude to ignore people, I decided to be more interactive for my sake and for the sake of kindness. To me, my efforts were huge because I pushed out of my comfort zone, but in their eyes, nothing changed. The people whom I thought I was growing a friendship with, and those whom I thought were already my friends, all made useless gossip and conspiracies about me and planned to do horrific things, but didn't get the chance. Words can't describe my shock at the latter. I wouldn't lie, it hurt like hell, but I've been surrounded by good friends all my life. With that being said, the third place award goes to those who pretended, for I would have never known such type of people existed had I not met them.

2. To those who tried to cut deep.

I don't have much to say about these kinds of people except that they watch from afar. They look out for the slightest slip-ups and if they don't find any on the surface, they either dig deeper or formulate their own. You can always feel their prying gazes or hear the hushed whispers. Their main goal is to crumple your self-esteem and self-confidence, nurture your insecurities, and instill self-doubt. The question here is, 'Will you let their words cut deep and leave a scar?' Thank you to the ones who helped me grow my strength and realize my self-worth. So for their wonderful achievement, I bestow the second place award, to those who tried to cut deep.

3. To those who tried to bring me down.

Have you ever met someone who conquered their insecurities in a very foul way? Someone with the insatiable desire to be at the best so badly that even amongst those who are better, they still manage to outshine them. And when they see someone they think they surpass in things like popularity, beauty, money—you know, the things that don't matter. In all honesty, there were times when they were close to succeeding but I prevailed. The impact they made on my strength is too great to be put into words, which is why the first-place award goes to those who tried to bring me down.

In essence, the journey of self-development is not solely characterized by the warmth of support and encouragement; it is also marked by the chill of criticism and skepticism. The symphony of life harmonizes both the melodies of praise and the dissonance of doubt. By acknowledging the multifaceted contributions of those who doubted, questioned, and critiqued, I am embracing a holistic understanding of my evolution.

Yours Sincerely,

Zara.