Ah, school days! When life was all about seizing every bit of fun, and textbooks were … well yuck! Use them for pillows. You see, I was THAT kid — the one whose idea of “studying” was a two-day cramming marathon before the exams. Did I understand what was being taught? Absolutely. Was I paying attention? That’s debatable — unless, of course, it pertained to the latest escapades in fun and frolic.  I guess I must have been – still remember most of it, but I wasn’t putting enough back into it. 

I’d mastered the art of the academic act, balancing precisely on the edge of “just enough to not invoke the wrath of the family”. The perennial remarks on my report card? “We know you can do better.”

Then came the era of bicep curls and treadmill sprints — the gym phase. Here too, I was the hare. I wanted those Schwarzenegger-esque muscles, and I wanted them yesterday! Spoiler: That didn’t work out.

Reality really kicked in during my professional exams. Who knew you could actually FAIL these things? The art of the last-minute scramble, my trusty old way, didn’t seem like it would work. It was here, amidst ledgers and liability assessments, that I grudgingly, very grudgingly, embraced a life-altering virtue: discipline. 

This newfound, forced, consistency didn’t just see me through my exams; it became my shadow, following me into adulthood. It’s the reason I can now wake up at will, quit any bad habit, have the confidence to learn anything knowing that I can put in the work needed to make things happen. 

So, if I could zip back in time and whisper into my younger ear, it would be this: Embrace consistency. It’s not the grand gestures but the small, daily acts of commitment that pave the road to success. Be it academia, the gym, professional life, or health — consistency is your North Star.

In our quest for instant gratification, we’re tempted by shortcuts and the allure of minimal effort. But consistency? It’s the hero, demanding you do the necessary, even when the thrill is gone. Yes, you’re allowed your cheat days — they’re the jazz hands in the consistent rhythm of life. But remember, most days, you dance to the beat of perseverance.

Because, at the end of the day, consistency isn’t just a practice; it’s a superpower. And who doesn’t want to be a superhero?