Is life always fair in the end?

I think at many points in life, all of us could admit to being heard saying “life isn’t fair!” For those coming up against, short or long term health battles, you may say they grabbed the short straw. However, for many who battle life threatening illness and prevail, they may be the first to tell you, don’t feel sorry for them, life just become that much richer and enjoyable.

Sometimes discouragement settles in. Everyone has there own rollercoaster to ride, although from looking at some people you wouldn’t know it. There are those that handle pressure with grace, or at least hide the chinks in the amour from public view. However, those I have met with a “bend don’t break” mentality (often describing a football defensive line), are seemingly able, time and again, to withstand the heat, until the stress of a situation cools off. Having the courage to stand in the face of certain failure, giving everything you have, using all your talents and gifts, is the time we grow the most, win or lose. Not standing near the ledge, looking down over chasm of the unknown, is an opportunity lost and possible regret. How do you know how far you can push yourself, if you have never seen the edge?

In the long run, and I think a most important factor in an everyday person’s success (businessperson, parent, mentor, teacher, hero), is not losing sight of the long term view. One step at a time, one challenge at a time, one mistake at a time (learned from) including glorious success and staggering defeats. Many successful people encourage us to fail quickly and often as it’s the fastest way to learn life’s lessons. I like to prescribe to the theory of learning from your mistakes one time and creating more successes than failures. I also think Steve Martin has some good advice to share:

“Be so good they can’t ignore you.”

Life, as it rolls out, is out of your control, knowing that is half the battle. What could have been, should have been or didn’t happen is behind you. Embrace life, its more often than not fair in the end, trust it.