|
|
Life is too hard and too risky in the eyes of many. By contrast, others are such proponents of a virile existence, demanding great courage and giving great pride, that they are ready to leave the coziness of their home to scale Mount Everest and breast the elements for the sheer joy of conquering the summit. Whatever the perspective, the nature of things remains unchanged. There are rules, necessities and duties, and limits, possibilities and impossibilities. Until doom, one can accept them and make the best of them, much to one's pleasure and honor, or one can do the opposite and suffer the consequences. The choice between these two options is the very essence of freedom. Personally, I have no use for the second option: a self-inflicted misery that is without the slightest doubt a pitiable way of life.
The first option, on the other hand, is a pleasurable and honorable alternative that I find compelling, though uphill. It is applicable to any situation encountered in the course of one's living venture, provided one is not unfortunate to the point of being hopelessly unable to cope. The range of this applicability corresponds with the range of one's adaptability. It is normally considerable, despite the tendency to cling to old gratifying habits even after they have become impracticable or unsuitable, owing to a change of situation. One can be weaned from such habits onto new gratifying habits, in the same way as a baby can be weaned onto solids. The more the change is significant and one is reluctant to adapt to it, the more the weaning process is difficult and long in producing the desired effect. Again, the only option worthy of one's attention consists in taking things as they come and making the most of them, for one's sake and that of others. The reverse is foolish and harmful, a deplorable waste of humanity.
On the whole, the power to live in a well-adjusted and high-minded way and the freedom to choose this way in preference to the alternate, illegitimate, way are the foundations of the life one builds. The exercise of this power does not necessarily imply a principled resignation toward the status quo. One may be faced with a remediable evil that calls for a struggle to remedy it, effectively and rightly. In that case, living in a well-adjusted and high-minded way entails accepting the need for this struggle and the means of waging it, and sparing no effort to attain one's end. Ills are a test of will, an opportunity to show dignity.
They are also an opportunity to probe and appraise one's inner resources. Over the years, I have improved my situation and especially my attitude, whose negativity was the most unfavorable and improvable aspect of my life. In so doing, I have discovered my true richness. Nature has endowed me with an adaptable capacity for happiness within the limits of my changeable reality. According to my observations, this capacity is not unusually great, compared with that of most people. I am even tempted to think it is somewhat lagging behind. Eleven years plus to adapt in triumph to my physical disability is no feat for the Guinness Book of World Records!
During that time, the riddle of life had more or less baffled me. Yet, laboriously, with the help of many books and much thought, I had managed by degrees to clear it up, enough to find a meaning to my life. This riddle is comparable to a mire: The slower you go through it, the deeper you get into it. Perhaps thinkers are commonly untalented in the art of living and their saving grace is their dogged determination to redeem this lack of talent by dint of studying the human soul. Amusingly enough, these untalented individuals are often perceived as gifted, once they have seen the light and reflected it with the numerous mirrors of an elaborate analysis, after a tentative and protracted search in the dark.
This sort of overcompensation is typical of people who experience difficulties in a certain area, but refuse to admit defeat. While some fare well in this area with a minimum of effort, they try hard to overcome these difficulties, with the result that they often fare better than the others. Their redeeming feature is their willpower in the face of their shortcoming, which they use as a reason to redouble their efforts, not as an excuse to throw in the towel. This is a recipe for a worthy success. They discipline and surpass themselves, and thus proudly turn things around. |
| Author: Laurent Grenier |
| |
Author Bio:
Laurent Grenier
Laurent Grenier’s career as a full-time writer and philosopher spans over twenty years. He has released various articles in art and philosophical magazines. He has also written some philosophical essays, a collection of memories and thoughts, and a compendium of physiology and nutrition, still unpublished. “A Reason for Living” constitutes his best work to date.
|
| This article can be searched using: arts & humanities, humanities social sciences, define humanities, habitat for humanity |
|
 |
|
| |
Related Articles |
| |
Cambodia's Heroes Should Be Revoked
|
| |
Business Basics for Opening Your Photography Business
|
| |
Indie Music
|
| |
Flower Pictures - A Mild Obsession #1
|
| |
Copywriting Makeover: Subtle Changes Make A Noticeable Difference Part 1 of 2
|
| |
ViewSonic Plasma Consumer Reviews of the VPW4200 42 inch EDTV-ready Television
|
| |
Goth: What Is It?
|
| |
iPods- which rock the world
|
| |
Make your own music box
|
| |
Wall Coverings UK Trends and Tastes
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Metals have certain physical properties, which makes them a favorite medium for artists and sculptor ... - Kristy Annely |
| |
|
The Canadian political system as it is known today was first drafted by the "Fathers of Confederatio ... - Dave Lympany |
| |
|
For the serious music box collector, looking after their valuable collection is important. Though pr ... - Monique Hawkins |
| |
|
|
| |
|
I once lived, for a short time, in a haunted house. Many readers may be skeptical of this "story" bu ... - David Slone |
| |
|
Dances with Wolves is another successful story that follows the Hero's Journey template almost by th ... - Kal Bishop |
| |
|
Bengals draft pick AJ Nicholson and other young Bengals have had run ins with the law recently. - Eric Schumann |
| |
|
A poem form the Macabre side of life, officially was to go into a book two years ago, but it wasn't ... - Dennis Siluk |
| |
|
Much as we sometimes fear change, some inexplicable part of the human psyche loves unpredictability - Dave Carter |
| |
|
| |
|
|
About Us
