Whose life has ever come and gone without tribulation; Been such smooth sailing that its journey is trouble-free. None I know of certainly, and surely no one could ever claim such a life.
Below is a quote from one of my favourite books, The Count of Monte Cristo.
“Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes.” - Alexandre Dumas.
Life is a storm, Dumas writes and he's not wrong; It's a constant struggle against the raging wind, pelting rain, the crucible-hot and bitingly-cold. Life throws challenges at us and we have little choice but to face them; To face the storm.
In between the adversity and challenge is beautiful weather, temperate and calm sunny days, light breezes and the smell of fresh air...The good times which of course is the reward for weathering the storm. But one must be wary for life won't always travel on calm waters.
Together with the storm of life comes barriers and obstacles that impede or halt our progress, our lives. But in truth there are no barriers on our minds, no roadblocks, walls or boundaries...Except those that we willingly erect.
So as Dumas continues in the quote above, "Look into that storm and shout...DO YOUR WORST, FOR I WILL DO MINE, and the fates will know you..."
Action, ownership, responsibility and perseverance can overcome barriers...And the storm.