Adversity & Challenge

Still a rookie. This phrase always brings a smirk to my face. Even after so many lessons, after so many battles and after so many experiences. It is so amusing, curious and amazing that there is still so much more to be learnt, so much more to be experienced and so much more to be challenged. And I relish at the opportunity to be challenged because it will push me to my limits and it is through pushing that I become greater. Being a good rookie, I yearn for it.

So here I am, finding myself in a position that I have never experienced before. Finding myself in a new situation, a new scenario, a new surrounding. Yes, it may be unfamiliar but what is important is to stick with what is familiar to me. My faith, my strength and my courage. So here I am placed in a role this time, in a different kind of role. One to support, one to mentor, one to love and one to give hope and strength. Let me tell you, it is by no means easy. It is daunting. It is scary. But I’m not scared. I’m not afraid. I see it as a challenge. A challenge that I will only come out stronger. For so long, I have not felt myself being challenged like this. To be pushed like this. To be stretched like this. But I find comfort in it. I find joy in it. I am excited about it. Being there for someone else is never easy. You find yourself trying to push the other, encourage the other and being strong for the other. It is not easy. But I will overcome and I will excel. Because I know I will be strong enough to lift not one but both of us through this adversity and challenge. It may get tiring, it may get exhausting but the important thing is I don’t stop moving forward. Because I know every single test and challenge and adversity is preparing this rookie for the road ahead. In years to come, I will look back and know this is nothing compared to what I will face and I will be thankful for this because it made me strong enough to overcome whatever that comes my way.

When faced with new adversity or challenge, I tell myself:

I have not seen this coming, so I shall take it in my stride.

I have not been through this before, so I shall try my best to move forward.

I have not done this before, so I shall learn from it.

I have no idea when my job will be done, so I shall never give up.

When it’s all said and done. I will look back and I will see the difference between me back then and much I have grown to be a better person.

These few weeks or days rather made me think a lot. And I am fairly certain I have found my purpose. Weaker men will question – what is my purpose here? What purpose is there to live such a life? What purpose is there to fight such a fight?
But I am not weak. Nobody is weak, they just don’t realise it yet. It is not questioning what purpose is, but instead finding meaning in the purpose we choose for ourselves that will shape who we are. 

It is in giving to others, that I give myself more. I renew my faith, I renew my courage, I renew my strength through giving them to others. And I will be strong and I will fight. For this is a fight worth fighting for. A love worth dying for. A life worth living for. Because you are worth it. And no matter what, I will stand by you. I will catch you if you fall and I will be behind you all the way till the very end. Because that is what being Superman means. I found meaning in that purpose. Your Superman.

So you find yourself faced with adversity. Faced with the brick walls. But know this, the brick walls are there not to keep you out. They are there to challenge those that want it badly enough, those that hold true to their intentions and those who are willing enough to break through them. And yes, breaking through brick walls isn’t easy. You’ll get hurt, you’ll get bloodied, you’ll get bruised. You will fall. 

But you will not stay down. Wipe the tears off, wipe the blood off, wipe the sweat off and get the fuck back up. I’ve done it. So can you and everyone else. Every time you get up, your wounds heal,  so you get stronger. You know the pain of hitting the brick wall and you learn how to do it better, so you get smarter. You learn that no matter how many times you fall, so long as you get back up, you will move further, so you get better. Bigger, better, stronger. 

Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody can hit as hard as life. But it isn’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done. That’s how true leaders are forged. Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But you have to be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you are not where you want to be because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and you are not one. You’re better than that. What’s worth the price is worth the fight. You are strong, you are capable and I believe in you.

Go out there rookie, and show the world. Show your family, show yourself, show me and show everybody else who has stood by you – what you are made of and what you can do. Because you can and you will and we all believe in you.

-Juls
Live more, Love more, Laugh more.