One aspect of life that I don't like is the surprising upsets that occur, upsets that you don't anticipate, and upsets that sometimes weave their way into your life often in quiet, unassuming ways until all of a sudden you have a big challenge to face.
I suppose that some people who are more aware than me don't face as many surprises when it comes to big challenges. I suspect that some people see the challenges for what they are early on. As for me, I think that my optimism blinds me sometimes to life's big challenges. I generally see the glass as half-full rather than half-empty which may create a situation where I ignore the signs of impending challenge until they hit me in the face. That can happen.
Anyways when you become aware of these giant, unexpected challenges in your midst, there's an initial shock and the obvious question, "Why has this happened to me?" Then most realize, these big challenges happen to everyone at one time or another in life, and when these challenges happen, you have the power to choose how you will deal with it.
I once spoke to an older woman about one of these giant challenges she faced in her own life. She said to me that friends advised her to accept the challenge and move on to live her best life. Her friends said that was the only way to face a big challenge like the one she faced. I spoke to that woman long after she faced the challenge, and the truth is that she did move on to live an extraordinarily generous and loving life. As I think about the situation of unexpected challenges, that woman's life is a great example to follow.
Also as I think about the many unexpected challenges friends and family have faced, it reminds me that we have to be as sensitive and kind as we can be when situations like this occur. No one asks for big challenges in their lives, and most people don't desire those big challenges for others as well.
The reality of life is that big challenges will happen, and we can do our best to deal with those challenges, and once we do our best we have to have compassion for ourselves too because we all have our limitations and all we can do is our best. Onward.
