Chapter 1: Understanding the Rat Race

The term "Rat Race" refers to a lifestyle characterized by intense competition for wealth or power, as defined by Oxford languages. But why is it labeled as "a way of life"? Is this truly accurate?

When we enter this world, are we destined to participate in this rat race?

We strive to excel academically, become top athletes, or even achieve the position of CEO. Is our existence solely about pursuing power and recognition?

After researching the origins of the term, I discovered that it describes the competition between two rats racing to claim a piece of cheese. In their eagerness to win, they expend more energy than the reward merits. This illustrates a relentless, often pointless pursuit—an exhausting competition that many find themselves in.

So, who emerges victorious in this scenario? Ultimately, it’s one of the rats, but even then, neither truly wins, despite one obtaining the cheese.

In today's world, we frequently observe power struggles among political factions, corporate titans profiting at the expense of others, and nations vying for dominance. Escaping the grips of this rat race appears to be the path to true freedom. But what does freedom really mean?

We often categorize jobs into white-collar and blue-collar classifications, and students are often divided into elite and average groups. This tendency to distinguish the best from the worst has become commonplace.

Those working as delivery drivers, private hire operators, or construction workers are often viewed as belonging to a lower class.

Think back to the innocent face of a toddler, who shares their treats without judgment. Such genuine kindness is increasingly rare in our society.

The rat race may persist indefinitely, but we, as humans, can shift our mindset towards a more harmonious culture.

We can foster stronger connections among different social classes, transcending race and religion. It is my hope that one day, the culture of the rat race will fade away.