Growing pains seem to dominate our everyday existence; loss, hurt, struggle, acceptance, you name it. If it isn’t coming to terms with the dreadful fact that you will be back to repeat a semester at varsity, it is that the people you considered your friends no longer are. At every turn all you see is change, even the cockroaches, which magically appear when visitors are around seem to have their seasons, they come and they go.
It isn’t that change was never noticeable before, it just never used to have such negative implication as before. With it comes terms such failure, inadequacy, loneliness and rejection_ to name just a few. This comes at the thought that perhaps, just perhaps, life is not fair. Why do we have to experience constant inconsistencies? It’s as though God just woke up in a grumpy mood and suddenly decided that He didn’t like you anymore, let alone love you. The act of standing still is a challenge in itself as thoughts of; “I’ll I get left behind. No, forgotten. I will cease to exist.” race through your mind.
Left and right you look, everyone else is moving forward. Your schoolmates are working now, some even have cars. Don’t get me started on how others have your dream job or internship. You wonder why it is that you gain a jean size every year and yet your best friend since childhood has stayed the same; perfectly rounded ass and hips that will make you lie. Heck, the long-term relationship you long for; all blurry with white smoke at the edges, running in slow motion towards each other through a field of daisies, wedding bells chiming away in the background and finally the ‘legs in the air’ while swirling around embrace, is but an intangible dream. Your own life falls short.
Does it really though?
Have you ever taken a step back and taken a look at things for what they really are? Is the road you walk on to be judged in comparison to that of others? Think about it: is it not a blessing to be given a second chance at school instead of being excluded; is it not better to be rid of people whose only value was taking from you instead giving in return; is it not better to specialize in your desired career field than to leave with a general qualification; is that car worth it when you have resort to expecting petrol money from friends you give lifts to, whilst going to the same place; are you not destined to find your own path to that dream; are your bountiful curves not the mark of womanhood compared to those of a ‘shorty’ or mabhebeza, and is the image of love portrayed on the outside a true reflection of that ‘perfect’ relationship behind closed doors?
Growing pains are a beautiful thing; loss, hurt, struggle, acceptance, you name it, are just a mere tip of the iceberg. These are the vehicles that lead us to the true grasp of gratitude, wisdom, resilience and courage. These constant inconsistencies constantly evolving us into better human beings, if and only if we welcome them. Life gives us the metamorphosis that moths and butterflies only experience once in a lifetime, yet we are privileged to experience throughout our lifetime.
On attending a Women in Leadership Conference during Women’s Month, the ever vibrant MC, Cecilia Ravele illuminatingly said; “God puts pressure on your potential.” The upper-cuts and fly-kicks we feel God gives us are simply the loving touch of refinement, a push in the right direction and the foundation of priceless character.
Take a look back to the person you were 1 or 2 years ago. Would you choose to be the same him or her, were you given the choice to? Sure, life is unfair, but so are the undeserved blessings God always gives, the unfailing love and loyalty of the friends and loved ones we barely speak to, let alone show our appreciation to, and the ability to live truthfully unto ourselves.
So before we open our mouths, minds and heart to complain, ask yourself; is it not wonder made manifest that we are simply, alive?
No comments:
Post a Comment