- Gold, smelted at high temperatures to give it form
- The metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly
- A rock being chiseled into a beautiful sculpture
- Pruning of a vine to bear more fruit
- Appreciating the real value of life
ll good, but is it possible to live a life of endless parties and fun? Society is built upon the assumption that we are all of us just as good as we should be. To confess our imperfections is to proclaim ourselves unhuman. To admit suffering can result in alienation. We place on a pedestal, those people who are the life of a party - the ones who are perpetually bubbling on a high. As a result, the answer to the question, "How are you doing", is usually, "All is well". Even if all is not well.Adversity forces us to consider our circumstances. There is much value in suffering. It helps us learn, it builds character and endurance. Here's my conclusion - no one can come close to perfection unless they've gone through the hard process of becoming mature in understanding the ways of life. And the ways of life lead to much suffering. Like an unavoidable plague, flowing across all sections of society.
It's like that old Avis slogan, We're only No. 2. We try harder. It may sound counterintuitive, but admitting your negatives can build trust. Admitting your faults can be humanising, not humiliating. Nobody claims to be perfect, yet most people go to great lengths to hide their imperfections. I say flaunt it! Advertise your flaws.
My strength lies in acknowledging that I'm not always strong enough. How I negotiate through my struggles is a fair benchmark and a testament to how much I've grown. I embrace difficult times, times of misery and melancholy, because I know in all certainty the joy that follows soon after.
Need we be ashamed of our tears... for they are the very rain on the dust of the earth