When the Sun Decided to Take a Day Off

Let's say the sun wanted to just stop glowing one day. Just one day. It won't be bad right? What could possibly go wrong? After all, it deserves a break after burning for more than a millennia.

No one would think about the centuries it had shown up unfailingly. No one would count the endless mornings it rose without complaint. So does it matter if it's gone for a single day?

No? Yes?

Isn’t that what happens in our teams and communities as well? The ones who always carry the load, the ones who always show up, the ones who always shine — the moment they slow down, even for a breath, the world starts inquiring: “Why isn’t it ready? Why didn’t it happen?”

Meanwhile, those who never showed up still stand in the crowd, untouched, enjoying the same warmth, the same credit, the same recognition.

Aren’t we also a part of this — expecting others to shine endlessly while we enjoy the comfort of their light?

Those who've seen the Barbie movie knows about America Ferrera's iconic monologue about the struggle of trying to be feminine. Now let me rephrase the same monologue so it will make more sense in this context regardless of the gender.

"You have to be a boss but you can't be mean. You have to lead but you can't squash other people's ideas. You have to have money but you can't ask for money because that's crass. You have to be a career person but also always be looking out for other people. You have to answer for others bad behavior but if you point that out, you're accused of complaining. You have to blend in without attracting too much attention to yourself but also try to stand out from the crowd and be grateful. But never forget that system is rigged so find a way to acknowledge that but also be grateful. You have to never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line. It's too hard! It's too contradictory and no one gives you a medal or says ' Thank You' and it turns out in fact that not only are you doing everything wrong but also everything is your fault."

This monologue summarizes everything what me and Amith Abey Stephen are trying to convey now. We've seen and observed how many of the works our peers do, gets underappreciated every now and then.

It's as if doing hard work is futile and yet somehow without that hard work, the foundations of a team will collapse in a day. It's saddening that in times like today, where sincere people in a team with full commitment, are looked down on either as working machines or lab rats or even placing them as scapegoats when things don't go the way they're planned.

So here’s the piercing thought — what if the Sun truly stopped one day? What if the ones who always carry the weight finally decided they’ve had enough? Would the world finally understand their value? Or would it still only remember to blame them?