We Are Not Alone in Trying

19 June 2026

I had to get up early today, around 5 a.m., to drop my son off at camp. We needed to arrive at school by 6 a.m., so we were on our way before then.

The traffic was light and easy, but surprisingly, there were still quite a few cars on the road—it didn’t feel like it was that early.

I told my son that there are many people who start their day early and work hard. Often, we don’t realize this because we assume others live a life similar to ours.

But in reality, everyone carries different responsibilities. Just like today, we had to be well organized to make sure we arrived at school on time.

I made a list of things to do in the morning so I wouldn’t forget anything, especially since I planned to go straight to work afterward, as my office is close to the school.

My son was also very organized. He had been preparing all week and packed everything the night before. He even went to bed early to make sure he could wake up on time. It wasn’t easy for him—he’s not used to getting up that early—but we managed.

The drive to school took much less time than usual at that hour. Still, seeing cars on the road reminded us that the busyness of life begins long before we usually wake up. It gave us a sense of appreciation, and a quiet comfort in knowing that we are not alone in working hard toward our goals.