Sometimes, I get the feeling that life always has an obstacle for us to overcome. They can be small, like homework to complete, or they can be larger, like playing a challenging role in a production. However big or small, it seems that there is always a point right before you finish, where everything seems the hardest. This point is what we need to overcome, because often, if we can get through that, we find that it wasn’t as difficult as we thought it would be.
Anyone that knows me, knows I read and have read a lot of books. I’ve noticed a pattern in almost every book. Right before the hero or heroine finishes their task, a large battle or war occurs. Sometimes, in realistic fiction books, the main character has to face their fear in order for everything to work out. For example, in the movie Star Wars, (spoiler alert) the good guys had to blow up the Death Star before the galaxy could live in peace. Or, in the Harry Potter series, (another spoiler alert) Harry had to battle Voldemort before the wizarding world could be safe.
This theory applies largely to life. In my math class last year, I wasn’t doing very well towards the middle of the year. I wasn’t failing, but I definitely wasn’t doing as well as I wanted to. After a bad grade that opened my eyes, I realized that I had to ask for some help. I brought my homework home, worked on it with my mom, and tried to participate more in class by asking questions. Gradually, I brought my grade back up to something I could be proud of.
These bad things are often just signs that something needs to change. I’m not a fan of change. I don’t like things to be different, and I like having a fair amount of stability in my life. However, I know that, often, change is necessary. For example, my family purchased a new door a while back. Being nostalgic, I didn’t want to get rid of the present door, even though it was aged, creaked, and didn’t keep the cold out very well.
A new door was probably the best move, but that didn’t stop me from not wanting a new one. I was the same way when my mom wanted to get a new van, and my dad began looking for a new truck. However, once the switch was made, I realized that things were better off after the change. Sometimes change is unsettling, but usually, it benefits us in the long run.
These experiences taught me that sometimes something bad has to happen in order to make way for something better. Sometimes, you need to get a bad grade to see that you need some help in math. Sometimes, the hardest battle is fought right before the victory. So this week, remember that change isn’t always a bad thing, and the most difficult battles fought, are usually the ones with the most gain. See you next week!
“Reprinted from Hagel Publications, Inc. dba as Courier Newspapers”