CONTRAST

If you can only win and never lose, what would you call that?  I don't think you can call it winning.  If it was always light out and never dark, what would you call that?  You certainly could not call it daylight.  If your life was always positive and never negative, what would you call that? My point is that in life you need a contrast in order to gage your progress. Without adversity, growing is virtually impossible.  Without a state of misfortune or difficulty how would you be able to measure your courage or accomplishments?  These so-called hardships are a necessary component for success.  As Jim Rohn has stated, and I'm paraphrasing, don't ask for things to get better, ask for more wisdom or more skills.  Or as Lao Tzu, the Chinese philosopher said, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.  Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."  I welcome adversity because it creates a contrast that we all need in order to appreciate living.
 Individuals who know me will tell you that I love life.  All aspects of life.  I also understand that life is difficult to navigate at times.  It's no secret that there is suffering in life, but everything truly happens for a reason.  When suffering occurs, we like to take it personal, but suffering doesn't just happen to a few.  In one form or another it happens to all of us.  Rich or poor, black or white, male or female etc., it happens to everyone.  Death, divorce, bankruptcy, illness, you name it, it happens.  We all like to point our finger and place blame on our misfortune at someone or something but, once the storm clears, if we are honest, we can clearly see the benefit received from such an experience.  Personally, for me, I wasn't raised in an inspiring environment.  However, when I look back at my past, I can honestly say that I would not change one thing.  That's because I would not be the person I have become if it wasn't for my past.  I don't live in the past, but I understand that the past has had a significant impact on who I am.  I encourage you to use your past as a tool to contribute to your future in a positive way and not as an excuse for lack of accomplishment.  Today will soon be your past.  One thing for certain is that your tomorrow will not be any different than your today if you don't own your past and put it in perspective.  Remember that no mountain was ever climbed without a few stumbles.  I leave you with a quote on point.  "Adversity introduces a man to himself."  Albert Einstein
  Just a thought.

Previous
WAIT
Next
SOOTHSAYER