Life is messy. It’s full of heartbreak, bumps and bruises, and worry (among other things). There are times when you lose all hope, and your heart calls for a “clean up on aisle three!” over your mind’s intercom. So rarely, however, do we bring to the surface the struggles that we face. We like to imagine that life is all good all the time, in hopes that we can somehow trick ourselves into believing such an atrocious lie. We tell ourselves that we are the only ones sinking in the quicksand of the stress of life, but the reality is that every person we encounter is in the same boat as we are, and they are equally skillful in the art of hiding it.
No good comes from burying your struggles and pining over our hardships, acting like they don’t exist. This is no way to live life. We must embrace life and all that it has to offer – even the messy bits. We have to accept the fact that life is hard and that death is inevitable. We must stop living like we are immune to dying. All these ideals grouped together – the thwarted outlook on life and death that so many of us have – is the perfect recipe for an incomplete, depraved life.
Embrace the reality that life is messy. Abandon the thought that you must be young forever and that life shouldn’t be as messy as it is. Couple that acceptance, then, with emphasized joy in the good times and a focus on living your life to its fullest.
This is realism. It is a view so few people hold, as it is lost in the midst of extreme optimism and deep pessimism. This realistic view of life, though, is absolutely vital to a healthy lifestyle and worldview. There are so many people who are horrified by films such as “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” and “August: Osage County,” because they portray very real truths about life. Let me tell you something though: it is good to see life for all that it is.
Life isn’t all rainbows and smiles and beauty all the time. Those aspects are very prevalent and important in life, but that’s only one half of what life is about. The other half of life – the messier, harder half – is so often locked away deep down in the basement of our minds, and we don’t want to think about it. What people don’t realize though is that, that half of life is imperative and perfectly complimentary to the “better,” “more enjoyable” half of life.
Without death, our heartbreaks, and worry, we could never experience true joy. If we never got hurt, we could never experience healing. If we were never broken, we would never know what it feels like to be put back together. With death comes new life, and with new life comes joy and hardship – both.
Rather than shy away from the struggles of life, accept life as it is. Be ready for whatever comes your way – difficult or enjoyable. Once you realize how vital both halves of life are, you can start living in a manner that reflects life’s truths. You won’t be afraid to embrace the reality of hardship, and you will appreciate the beauty of life all the more. Death is inevitable, but life is good.
Don’t be afraid to experience joy and sadness and everything in between. Lace reality with hope, and live your life in light of all of life’s circumstances.
