by D-Source

Created on: January 06, 2008

The Definition of Life:

When we were born, we struggled to make our grand entry into this world and to take our first breath. We struggled to learn our first words and to make our way through school. We struggled through college or Basic Training. We struggle with our relationships and paying our bills. When we get old, we will struggle with arthritis and other affects of old age. We will struggle to stay alive and then we will die.

These things are true of everyone and no one is exempt. The poor will struggle with paying their bills and the rich will struggle with figuring out who their true friends are and with keeping people out of their business. They will struggle with gossip, jealousy, the threat of robbery or the kidnapping of their children, keeping up with the Jones's and of-course, the stress of trying not to loose their riches. The rich actually have a bigger struggle than the poor who struggle to become rich. How ironic.

If no one is exempt from the struggle, then the only way to be happy is to accept the struggle as a way of life. If you loose an arm, the only way to be happy is to accept the fact that you will have to live with one arm. You can, of-course, spend your life upset about it and complaining about it or you can figure out how to get things done with one arm. You must embrace the extra struggle that you must endure. I am amazed at the difference between the person who is born with no legs and the person who looses his legs at age 25. One has a smile on his or her face and the other does not. One doesn't recognize that he or she is handicapped and one can't forget it. To one, everything is a huge struggle and to the other, things just take a little longer to get done.

This example suggests that the ability to be happy as we struggle through life is within us all at birth and lost as we are spoiled by the luxuries of life. Once we have experienced salt on our food, we no longer like our food without salt. Our meal is no longer enjoyable without it. But if we suffer through a few meals without it, we no longer require it. Wow!

What does this all mean? The definition of life is struggle. You will struggle with something until you die. Accept that truth and you will be happier. When faced with a new struggle it will immediately seem difficult, but you will adapt. You will improvise and you will overcome that struggle. You have done this since birth and you will do this over and over again throughout your life. Every thing has always, somehow, worked out and it always will. The evidence of this precedes the struggles of today. Look at your life. It has always worked out and it will this time, as well. With all that has happened and with all of your previous struggles, you are still here and you are OK. So keep on fighting. Keep on searching for the solution. Keep your head up and keep on striving. These 70 plus years are your chance to leave a legacy to your children and to humanity. It is the time that has been allotted to you for your enjoyment and to accomplish something. This is your life and your struggle. The definition of your life is "Your Struggle".

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