I always wanted to be an artist. With the loving help of my parents, I worked to become one. After studying diligently in the United States, I moved to Europe for years in pursuit of realism at the highest levels. My mom supported me. We talked on the phone long distance almost every day. When I felt downtrodden because my work didn’t seem good enough, she would say, “Sometimes, perfect is the enemy of good, and even great.”
When I was exhausted and wanted to give up, she would say: “It’s the last lap of the race, everyone is tired. The winner holds on to the end.” She even added an extra beatitude to teach patience toward a goofy classmate: “The nerds will inherit the earth.” She was right.
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