A heartfelt social media confession by a young Malaysian woman has gone viral for its raw honesty about financial stress, emotional burnout, and the quiet pressure of watching others seemingly thrive while she’s still trying to survive.
The XHS post, written by a woman born in 2001, begins with a sobering reflection as the second half of the year begins.
‘Have I already failed?’
Despite her efforts, she admits that her bank account still holds less than four digits — a source of deep insecurity.
I don’t have a rich family. I don’t have a successful side hustle like everyone else. All I have is the courage to keep going every day.”
She speaks candidly about comparing herself to peers who are already buying homes and starting businesses, while she struggles to see three figures in her bank account.
I’m 24 and still haven’t achieved anything. Have I already failed? Am I just not trying hard enough?”
As someone who grew up believing that studying hard and being a good person would lead to a better life, she now realizes that adulthood is far less forgiving than she expected.
The dreams she once had have been replaced by the daily grind of making ends meet — eating instant noodles, taking Grab rides, and swiping a debit card for basic needs, leading her to comment that “even just surviving now feels difficult.”
Learning to give herself grace
Despite her struggles, she shares a turning point — the slow, painful journey of learning to forgive herself for not being “there” yet. She writes about the version of herself that continues to smile through stress, fights back tears, and shows up every day despite feeling overwhelmed.
Life isn’t a race. Only I know where my finish line is. I can go slowly, stop when I need to. As long as I don’t give up, I’m still moving forward.”
Her words have resonated with thousands online, many of whom echoed her sentiment: that success isn’t always visible, and that surviving — in itself — is something to be proud of.
