Digital art: Sic transit gloria mundi

We’re spoon-fed this toxic hustle culture, brainwashed into believing life is a series of corporate ladders we have to climb forever, hoping that somewhere past the horizon we'll finally allowed to be happy. Some people look at the climb and opt out immediately. Others spend years crawling up, only to slip and break their necks over one wrong move. But the ones who get screwed over the most are those who actually make it to the top - only to realize there’s absolutely nothing there. Nothing worth the grind, nothing worth putting your life on pause for, and definitely nothing worth losing your soul over. That’s the exact second your royal crown glitches into a jester’s hat. After that, you're left with a choice: fake it and pretend the summit was worth wasting your life on, or climb back down, hit reset, and actually start living. A life where you choose yourself, your own metrics, your people, and your freedom... over a hollow illusion. ​I keep wondering why we automatically pass this curse down to our kids. Why do we stress over their future paychecks and job titles more than whether they’ll be free, at peace, and content? Why do we personally throw fresh generations into this achievement meat grinder, training them for a never-ending marathon fueled by corporate headpats and gold stars? Is just existing and being comfortable in your own skin not an option anymore? Since when does enjoying the small daily routines and ignoring the career ladder mean you’re a social "nobody"?

(Digital drawing, 2026)