Journalling · 10 minutes
Who’s the Race Against?
A journalling exercise for anyone who feels behind — swapping the scoreboard for a clearer look at where you already are.
Goes with the story The Stairwell Maths Club.
The Estate · theestate.world/reflect/whos-the-race-against
Before you start
If you can, put your phone in another room for this one. The scoreboard lives in there.
Steps
- Write down the names or types of people you compare yourself to most. Be specific: “people from school who bought flats”, “my cousin”, “people on my feed my age.”
- Next to each one, write what you think they have that you don’t.
- Now, underneath, write three things you know how to do that someone younger than you — or newer than you — would find useful. Zayden could fix a bike chain in ten minutes. What’s yours?
- Read the two lists side by side.
Write
Whose scoreboard am I still measuring myself on?
Who might already look up to me, without me knowing?
What do I know that someone else is waiting to learn?
Sit with this
Samuel’s question was only two words: “Behind who?” Say it to yourself slowly. Then ask the follow-up: And who’s that race against?
The Ripple
Offer one small bit of help to someone this week, using something you already know. A fraction on the back of an envelope. A bike chain. A CV read-through. Notice how it feels to be ahead of nobody and useful to somebody.
No printer?
Write here instead.
This stays on this page. Nothing is sent or saved.
Questions I Ask Myself
One story. One thought. One different direction.
Welcome, Neighbour.