The Show Must Go On
 

I am having one of those philosophical moments tonight. I think the saying "the show must go on" really represents how you should response to your problems in life. No matter how bad it gets, you can never give up. Whatever happens behind the scenes is merely personal challenges to make you grow stronger. If life was meant to be easy we'd all be sitting on our own islands with everything we ever wanted. There are people that like to give up, but really, what other choice is there than to bite your lip and move on. The thing is, no matter how much we want to be happy, we never will be until we accept the more menial parts of our lives that have to be pushed through. The rewarding prospect is, if you work hard enough, there is a chance you will achieve what you desire to.

Think about this analogy: picture a 3rd world country, a typical slum there is a child without parents, scavenging through the rubbish tips to find food to survive. Some might wonder why he bothers, why he doesn't just give up and starve to death. But something inside him tells him if he holds on he might just get a good feed one day. I know this is pretty extreme but I think those in poverty really know how to hold onto hope.

I guess the purpose of this thread is for you guys to reflect on your hardships and determine what your attitude are towards them. Mine have been pretty reluctant until now. I really have learn't a lot in the past 5 years and know now to accept that it may never get easier.

I would say I've never had any physical hardships...the worst kind, I feel...because I've never had to worry about getting food or water, and I've always had good health care.

Emotionally, there have been troubling times. Since I realize that these are what my brain puts me through, causing me to feel disappointment, frustration, fear of failure, boredom, regret, and loss (such as of loved-ones or dreams), I work on teaching myself (my brain) coping methods to try to feel better. I try to remind myself that as long as I have food, water, and shelter, things aren't *so* bad, and I'm lucky to have the privilege of worrying about emotional things. I'm lucky to feel anything at all. I also think through alternative scenarios to try to "get what I want" out of life.

I think feeling happy or at least fairly content does require accepting that life may never get easier...and may get worse...but having confidence that even if things don't turn out like you plan, that doesn't mean the path you end up taking is meaningless or empty. Sometimes hard work does *not* lead to rewards, believe me!

Having goals and something to look forward short-term to is very helpful to me, especially when doing mundane work tasks that feel like they'll never end!! I think it is important to learn how to make your own fun. When I was younger, I used to rely more on other people to "make" me feel better if I felt bad; I sort of resisted accepting full responsibility for my own feelings and reactions. Now I try to take full responsibility for my feelings. I realize no one can "make" another person feel better (though they can help). And I've lowered some expectations about life, so that when dreams aren't attained it isn't as disappointing.

I guess what sort of keeps me going is thinking about the alternative...which is nothing, and that nothingness(non-existence, death, etc.) is no reprieve because you won't be around to feel it.

You can't change the world, but you can make a dent!

^ I like that.

-Smoochy the Rhino

I'm an absurdist.

I believe in the existence of life only as far as the existence of one's mind. And one's mind must exist because one ponders his existence, thus there must be something to ponder!

Anyways, and in that sense one may expect that I believe in no goals and live entirely for pleasure. Which is partially true, partially not. See, because of my beliefs, instead of taking a 'do something for the world' or 'sit back and enjoy it' perspective, I do both. I do everything. I want to enjoy myself-- I experiment, I party, I play music, I take the pleasure life has to offer. But also, I have intense ambitions and pride myself on my deep intellect! Always been a top student, have a clear cut future for myself, and am involved in loads of community services and such.

And so, having a foot in both worlds, when hardship strikes, a half of my says screw it, I don't care-- but then I think how exactly do I want to be remembered? As an absurdist, I care about no one, but at the same time have accepted that I live in this world, wot ever it may be, and I will make it wot I please. And to conclude: In hardship, I say come wot ever may and I shall pass-- Because there's nothing better to do.

True. But I adopted that belief. Thank you Edward Norton.