Let’s take a moment to discuss the word “a.”

This word is the simplest in the English language. It is a transition word. It links other words in a sentence together. It is also used to introduce something. For example, we’d say, “This here is a pencil sharpener,” or “Just take a pill from the cabinet and you’ll feel better.” One simple, taken for granted word is the building block for our entire vocabulary. It is even the first letter of our alphabet. There is no possible way to write anything without using the word “a.”

Now consider our lives as the word “a.” We are born as “a” innocent, unharmed, a new transition into the world.

Life can be so simple.

Has anyone ever pondered the fact that humans make life so complicated? Why are we so picky? As an “a,” we meet no specific needs. We are in the care of an older being, someone passed an “a ” that has chosen to mature us into a more complex being. At this stage, we cry. We mainly want three basic things, food (which is usually a simple, warm formula), diaper change (can’t take care of that ourselves yet), and sleep. Once we are given those, we are happy again.

But suppose our lives in the years to come (let's say preschool). We are surrounded by new faces in a room filled with shapes and colors. The teacher then has all the students gather in a circle to play a game. Everyone wins of course, and the teacher hands out a selection of prizes. “You get what you get and you don’t get upset,” they chant, and you are given a green sticker. You notice another student has a red sticker, which you enjoy more. You now are upset. Instead of being happy with a simple reward, you have now gained the bittersweet trait of preference.

Now consider yourself again as “a.” At this stage in our lives, our issues are slim. We are picky with taste but get over it quickly. We have evolved, with a better sense of the world. Brought upon with memories and youthful experiences to laugh about in the future. Because you have moved forward in life, so has your symbolic word “a.” You are now “cat.” Your root word “a” still together in the middle, with a familiar letter “c” in the front and a not so familiar letter “t” at the end (think of the order of your alphabet lessons, okay?) You then begin to whine. “I want the red sticker!” This is only the beginning, my friend. Just wait until stage three.

You are now at the last stage. (funny huh?) Unfortunately, this stage begins when we are young and lasts until we grow old. Think of your pre teen years (yes- the awkward ones). Remember your first crush? Remember the time you were terribly embarrassed by the huge zit you've gained on your face? Well consider a general scenario as this- Your best friend becomes interested in the person you have relations with and just like that the person you were “dating” has moved on to the friend. Where has this come from? Didn’t we just live in a world with sunshine all around us?

A world where the attention was always on us? That stage is over now, and this exactly is the point when our preferences clash with our feelings (our ever-growing, fast-paced, raging feelings of love, hatred, and trust). As we move forward in stage three, this factor grows worse. So now our lives as “cat” have quickly turned into a “catastrophe.” Our lives begin to develop into one of rare preference and complex feelings.

This is not to say human life gradually gets worse. The factors that contribute into our “catastrophe” are not only bad ones but can also be great ones. The night you had your first kiss, the day you surprised your parents with dinner, the moment you understood the math equation, the year you graduated high school. Every memorable moment in our lives has been created through catastrophes.

Perhaps the night you had your first kiss you spilled ice cream on your shirt. Maybe the day you cooked dinner for your parents you knocked over the first batch and had to start over. Before you understood the math equation, you had to constantly bother your teacher with endless questions. And most definitely the year you graduated high school; you assumed you would never make it to college as you struggled to complete your homework.

So in conclusion, ending up a “catastrophe” isn’t a disappointing thing. In fact, it is a wondrous thing. We have grown into beautiful catastrophes all beginning with three simple wants. An innocent letter, an unharmed word, the word “a.”

So do not be discouraged when coming across the endless complications of life. These complications shape us into the beautiful people we are, and we should be thankful for that.