the extinguished light
What does winning even mean? Is it taking first place, the ability to overcome others, or the need to prove something to yourself? It's often hard to answer this without experiencing both streak of victories and a series of failures. While searching for the true answer, it’s easy to get lost in your own thoughts without finding a way out.
Have you ever managed to cross that invisible line after meeting an invincible rival? A string of wins and popularity can suddenly turn into a crushing defeat. That "invincible silhouette" starts living in your head, appearing before your eyes every night as you fall asleep.
But where does this thought come from. Is it desire to be the best just for the sake of someone else's approval? We fall into trap where the phrase "good job" becomes the most harmful thing you can hear.
In this race, it's easy to suffer moral defeat, even if you come in first. Is there any point in trying, knowing that you might never overcome your own limit? Intellect, physical ability, creativity - everything has limit. Is it worth trying to go beyond it while risking burning out completely? It’s question of the price we are willing to pay for the right to be called "the best" in world where most ideas have already been realized before us.
For the sake of meaning itself. Maybe it won't be possible to jump higher than your own head, but you can keep going because you simply cannot quit. I'm just terrible at quitting doing that.