A Boring story

A turnover

If you have been following my story so far, you would know that I wasn't particularly ambitious or goal-oriented. I would either work hard when I felt like it or waste my time with no specific goals. However, everything changed when an unforgettable incident occurred. It was the first time that I received praise from everyone, and not a single person looked at me with the same eyes that used to say, "You are nothing but a loser."I won first prize for the first time, with no one else sharing the same prize. This led me to participate in seven or eight competitions, although I didn't have many goals at the time. The reason behind my participation can be traced back to Part 6, when my mom praised me for the first time. Seeing everyone happy at home, I wanted more of that praise and started seeking it in any way possible.I joined a karate class because parents love children who excel in different tasks. The reason I chose karate was due to Chhota Bheem, which featured Kung Fu. Since I couldn't find a Kung Fu school, I joined karate instead. I believed I could capture their attention again, just like the last time. However, I was mistaken. I couldn't earn their praise this time because I wasn't praiseworthy. Despite practicing karate relentlessly, I couldn't even defeat a newly joined girl candidate in a spar. I was hurt during the fight, and my nose began to bleed. When my family found out about it, my uncle laughed at me, saying, "You got beat up by a girl." My sisters also commented that I wasn't suited for physical activities and suggested that I quit and focus on studying.Although I had planned for something else, I was soon selected for my very first karate competition for the kata shows. Katas are important combinations of moves in karate that involve the synchronization of body and mind. At the time, I was in the green belt, and I was selected based on my flexibility. I was able to stretch my legs completely, which felt like a small achievement. I finally received the praises I had been eagerly waiting for from my family. However, it wasn't excessive praise; they simply told me to aim for the first prize in the competition.During the competition, I performed the katas and eagerly awaited the results after the final rounds of fights. I was excited, thinking that I would win something that day, but to my disappointment, I returned home empty-handed. I had taken a leave from school for the competition, and my sister had mentioned it in the letter. My mom was a little upset about my lack of success.I desperately sought praise. Even if I scored good marks in my studies, I couldn't receive praise because they always seemed unsatisfied and compared me to someone above me. Topping the class seemed like the only solution, but due to my slow start and health issues, I couldn't achieve that. Excuses aside, I was lazy and should have worked harder.Academics were not a source of praise for me, so I had to do something to gain their approval. The only option left was karate, and I eventually reached blue belt 2 without even touching blue belt 1. This promotion was a result of my consistent attendance and long-term commitment to the classes.I joined another competition, feeling enthusiastic and hoping to receive long-awaited praise. I didn't seek praise from every family member; I just wanted my mom to praise me the most. However, the same outcome occurred once again—I didn't win anything and was only given a consolidated prize. When I returned home, something had happened between my mom and dad, possibly a fight. They were already annoyed, and upon hearing that I didn't win anything, they expressed total disappointment in me. While my dad didn't say anything, my mom uttered a few words that shattered my four-year effort in karate. She said, "You can't even win a real prize, even after years of practice. You are only good for eating and sleeping. Focus on doing well in your studies."I know she didn't mean it rudely. She phrased it that way due to the fight with my dad. Nevertheless, I was truly upset. After that, I lost interest in karate and began missing many classes, often arriving late. I remained in the blue belt 2 level for a long time, and eventually, I quit karate.I experienced loss after loss, trying my best to receive praise but instead facing humiliation. I started to lose hope in myself, thinking that I was good for nothing and not the hero in my story—just a side artist. At the time, I didn't know about my second law of life, which I'll discuss in Part 8. I was about to receive praise soon, though I had no idea at the time.A new part of my story begins as I joined abacus classes and put all my efforts into it, earning five prizes and a lot of praise. However, this story will be shared in the next part. I hope you'll continue reading because the real turning point is about to come. It begins when I enter high school, where my goals were set, and I start writing a completely new story. A story where I'm the hero. Volume 1 ends here.