Hardships


73

Hardships.



Everything in life that is considered worthy, makes demands on those who participate.  It is very easy to find a reason to complain, and at some time or other, all are guilty of doing so. Lao Tzu points out that far too often those who are in positions of power look after themselves and those closest to them. This, in turn, brings complaints from the majority.  

But that it was all so simple. We live in an age of instant everything, we grow more and more inclined to look for instant answers and instant cures. Pain should be removed from our lives, not tomorrow or the next day but now.

It is therefore not surprising that so many, sadly often those with a real sense of talent, cannot face the struggle and persistence it takes to achieve anything of value and worth. 

The creative person is aware of the hours of learning and practice that has gone into the production of any work of creativity; they know because such things are well documented. Yet even in the light of this we still discover that many give up before even beginning the journey, rather looking for easier ways to find satisfaction and happiness.

The truth is that no gold medals were ever won without there having been some dedication, training and a certain amount of pain and sacrifice. That little card trick that looked so simple to perform did not come easily, it took time to learn how to manage the sleight of hand required to perform it.

Lao Tzu was familiar with such problems and made a comment that often the hardships people had to face made him understand how people sometimes preferred the thought of death. Because of this he urged everybody to give a thought for others and urged us all to support one another.

We all face hardships, some that we would rather not be burdened with, but there are some that come because we have a desire to be successful, and to feel that we have succeeded, in what we wish to attain.

Lao Tzu speaks to us when he says, "It does not push itself, yet it always succeeds."  Everything in life takes time, except instant coffee and soup. 





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