Life on a lonely island
At some point in your life, you may have had a fantasy or maybe just thought about living on a lonely island. I was born on one and I never felt this lonely before. It’s easier to get caught up in the internet and think that the whole world is one big village and we all are equally treated. Sadly, the reality is way far from that.
One little article from one individual who is living on a small island would not be enough to talk about all these ugly realities of the world. But let me take one instance which triggered this disheartening feeling.
I have been writing on Medium since 2018 and I am grateful for how it helped me to build an international audience on my niche. It has been an important part of my growth in career and thought leadership. Above anything, it helped me to recognize and have confidence in the writer in me who used to scribble the thoughts just on the journal.
Then, I was thrilled when medium first reached out to me about one of my articles being eligible for paywall and that’s when I discovered the Medium Partner Program. That happiness didn’t last long because I couldn’t join the partner program without a Stripe account and Stripe doesn’t support my country. I thought I would wait for a day that Stripe supports my little island or Medium extends their payout methods. I had only little to no hope about my island’s government being involved to get payment gateways available for us because it has been just a “promise” they make during election season.
After 5 years, I see no improvement in the situation but strict processes are in place to avoid any workarounds which writers from unsupported countries used to join the partner program which is fair in terms of keeping the process clean, transparent, and free from loopholes.
But it’s the bigger picture that breaks my heart. Writing is not my bread and butter but it could be for many people, especially on this island. But our leaders have abandoned and in fact, have failed the people of this island where we have ended up with nobody but ourselves to save us.
I cannot stop worrying about the wasted potential of so many passionate and driven people who are willing to put in the efforts and are already putting in the effort that it takes to make a mark outside this island. Anyone who thinks that we all have the same starting line in this marathon of life needs a reality check.
Quoting from “The Daily Show”:
“Anyone who says, just work hard and things will work out.. those people are forgetting a major component known as luck. A lot of people work hard and they are still broke. In fact, the lots of time the broker you are, the harder you probably work.”
I could have finished this article with a prayer: that one day, we will be lucky to be included, to elect governing bodies that speak for their citizen, strive to take the citizens of this island one step further, and make their voices heard by the world.
But as I was writing this article I found my silver line in this dark cloud.
I choose to be more determined to continue writing for people who are not able to read articles that are behind a paywall than being disheartened by the fact that my skills and efforts not getting the same value, just because of my geographical location.
☕️ As a writer living in Sri Lanka, I don’t have the option to join Medium Partner Program. So if you find this article helpful, Buy me a coffee.
