Being stuck sucks. How often do we feel incapable of moving forward? How often do we see ourselves lacking compared to others?
Well, the answer is every day. The whole society dreams and works toward utopia, but the reality is that we are stuck in “Stucktopia.”
In the early mornings, cities are hectic with people rushing to work, school, and chasing down passion. Our community is caught in a cycle of routine and repetition that no one seems to escape.
At the end of the day, I wonder how many people feel confident and have their lives planned out versus those who feel stuck and unsure about their future. I am young, and adults tell me to try everything and take a step forward, but how am I supposed to step forward when I feel like I’m stuck, unable to move an inch?
Reading Hillary Kelly’s piece resonated with my experience of being in Stucktopia. It felt as though she had already journeyed through the same maze I’m currently navigating and left behind a trail of wisdom for me and others to follow. Her insights were like signposts, guiding me to realize that our entrapment isn’t due to our circumstances but rather our habitual ways of living.
The quote, “We’re not stuck in our circumstances, We’re stuck in the ways of living that perpetuate it,” illuminated the path forward, allowing me to look behind my actions and mindset and recognize a need for a change.
The article truly hit home.
* REMINDER: This is my entry submission for the New York Times 15th Annual Summer Reading Contest.
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