When you're twenty, life isn't always fair. You're mostly shaped by the environment you grew up in, whether it was good or bad.
But as you get older, into your thirties, forties, and beyond, you start to see how much control you actually have over your life.
Maybe you moved to a new country, learned a new language, embraced a new culture, and became a whole new person.
Maybe you took a big risk with your small savings, and it paid off.
Maybe you changed your habits and discovered you could be much healthier, smarter, and stronger by eating better, exercising, sleeping well, and sticking to a good routine.
Maybe you fell in love and realized that a great marriage is about more than just attraction and compatibility. If you find yourself with a kind, thoughtful, honest person who loves you back, you've truly hit the jackpot.
Maybe you met amazing people along the way, shared your journey with them, faced tough challenges together, and finally understood the true meaning of friendship. You learned that some people are worth trusting and making sacrifices for.
Maybe you faced health problems, lost loved ones, and felt the pain that comes with truly loving someone. But you also gained the wisdom to appreciate the simple, free things in life.
Life is a long journey. You'll experience the best and the worst. You can choose to feel like a victim, or you can choose to respect yourself, be resilient, mentally strong, and overall better. In the end, when you look back, you'll see how everything connected, and realize you got exactly what you deserved.
(Moving to a new country is a great way to lose any sense of entitlement. You quickly learn that no one will care about you unless you have something valuable to offer. You don't expect miracles or help from anyone; you know nothing good will happen unless you work for it.)