My Sister and Her Red Hat

My sister is studying to get her Red Hat Certificate. It’s one of the more challenging certifications to have under one’s belt.

And I am jealous.

Not because of the cert she is obtaining, it’s because of her focus and endurance in studying. She is up late at night and early in the morning. She forgoes relaxing and instead chooses to buckle down.

I am jealous of that fact.

I have not been engaging in any studying. I have chosen to spend more of my time indulging in relaxing. It’s not a bad thing, I just know I can do more but I really don’t feel like it.

And I know we all have lapses in focus and moments where motivation feels far away. But watching her has reminded me of what’s possible when discipline takes over where motivation drops off.

She’s not superhuman. She’s not some machine with endless energy. She just made the decision, day after day, to keep showing up. And that’s what I’m re-learning from her. It’s not about grinding yourself into the ground. It’s about committing to something long enough to see results.

It’s okay that I’ve taken a break. We all need seasons of rest. But I don’t want to stay stuck in this place. I don’t want to let envy linger when I can use it to fuel action. Watching her has been the nudge I needed to reflect, recalibrate, and get back to it, even if it’s just for 30 minutes a day.

So if you’ve been in a slump, too, just know it’s normal. But when you feel that twinge of jealousy watching someone else rise? Let it be a spark. Not one of comparison, but of possibility.

Start small. Start slow. Just start.