Hang In There

Henry David Thoreau wrote, "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." I am not sure that is true. I certainly hope it is not in general and even more in particular for those I know and love. We all experience adversity in our lives. It is, in fact, a necessary part of living - muscles do not grow strong without some resistance, nor does anything else. William Shakespeare put it this way, "They say the best men are molded out of faults. And, for the most, become much more the better for being a little bad in the physical sense."

Kepler Cascades, Yellowstone National Park, Teton County, Wyoming, USA, May 13, 2017. Nikon D90, AF-S Nikkor 70-300, f/4.5-5.6 at 70mm, Manual Exposure mode, f/10 for 1/200 second, ISO 200, processed in Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC.

The tree in the center of this image is a great example! It is growing on a cliff to begin with - if you choose your circumstances poorly, don't be surprised when adversity comes calling! When it was knocked down, it could have simply died. Instead, it continued to reach heavenward toward the light and thus became the subject of this object lesson.

So, when the winds of adversity blow into your life, as surely they will, keep going and striving to be the person you wish to be. Treat others with dignity and respect and exercise those muscles. You will be strengthened rather than beaten down. The choice is yours.