On the eve of 13th October, I was just scrolling through my Instagram and came across a post which quoted, “A specific day for us” with a mention of “International Failure Day.” Being honest, at first, I thought it is just a meme, because it was posted via meme account and I trust my algorithm. But, to my surprise, the world celebrates that day. And as usual, I read some comments, and realized, this generation is done for real. Literally, every comment was about failure with hundreds and thousands of likes; however, the actual problem is not their failure – but the connotation. For instance, there was a comment with 7,000+ likes which quipped:
Failed as a human!
Failed as a daughter!
Failed as a sister!
Failed as an aspirant!
I do not deserve to live!
Then, there were others in the same comment section saying, we (all) share the same life. So, I decided to interrogate – out of curiosity. Yes, maybe, I should be guilty of stalking through others profile, but in my defence, social media works this way. Almost 99% people- mostly teenager- were saying this with negative connotation. I was like what have you guys even seen in your life? This phase of life is complicated; there is no doubt or second opinion to it.
Consider this, a past full of lively moments in which parents take care of you, your present-self worried about the future-self but still stuck in the past. Maybe, some would love to relive the past, because it is easy and tension free. Maybe, some would want to secure their future in the absolute right now. Different people, different stories. Everyone is just celebrating the day, but in a wrong manner.
Moving forward, I decided to Google: International Failure Day. Its history, purpose, goals, ambitions, and impact. Historically, it was first celebrated in Finland in 2010 by students of Aalto University to change attitudes toward failure. The purpose is to encourage people to acknowledge and learn from failures instead of fearing them or just keep on living with them. And, to promote and create a global culture where failure is seen as a step toward success, not a stigma. There are many instances where people embraced their mistakes and made progress.
Basically, it is completely normal to feel harsh feelings after constant (so-called) failure, especially in this contemporary world where everyone is following the concept of “ASAP: As Soon As Possible.” We want fame, we want success, we want money, and countless things within a specific time. The problem is not that everyone is lucky or smart enough to achieve one or all these things so easily. Everything takes time, but the people primarily youth has lost the ingredient known as patience. The term patience may seem like a simple concept, but it embodies a deep philosophy.
It is not merely waiting; it is an ideology of trusting the process when results seem distant. It teaches acceptance, endurance and faith in the unseen rhythm of life. Yes, I understand that it is not easy to achieve it easily, but who said life is easy? Life is a complex phenomenon, yet with all its atrocities, it is beautiful. Give it some time, let the foolish life torture you, as they say, “when fu is inevitable, enjoy it.**” What other option do you have? But do remember, it is not just a negative phenomenon. In its essence, it is making you resilient against despair and haste. Reminding you that every delay carries wisdom and every struggle shapes a greater purpose.
“The almonds do not make us smart, but experiences do.”
And maybe that is what we are missing today – experience. Not the kind that comes from watching motivational content or reading quotes about “never giving up,” but the kind that comes from falling flat on your face and still waking up the next day to try again. The kind that teaches you that you do not have to glow up literally every six months or prove your worth through artificial achievements. Failure is not a full stop; it is just a comma – a pause to take a deep breath, to rearrange and to start again with more experience. We have romanticized success too much and demonize the process that actually leads to it.
Maybe failure is not the opposite of success, it is part of it. Think of it this way: no algorithm can predict your timing; no trend can define you; and no mistake can permanently disable you. The problem is not that we fail, but we do not allow ourselves to fail enough. Patience and failure walk hand in hand, demanding silence, resilience and a little faith in chaos. In the end:
“Drink even the bitterness of life with a smile, O Nasir;
For there is a certain pleasure that nature has placed in enduring pain.” (A loose translation of actual couplet).
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Do comment your thoughts!
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