It’s not a riddle. I am made up of the experiences I have encountered in my life, and I firmly believe they are all leading up to something bigger. I think tough things happen in our lives to help us grow and push us. A person is defined by the choice they make at that crossroad. To overcome the obstacle encourages growth in wisdom, courage, self-confidence, and purpose.

Not one great person (that I can think of) had an easy life. All those who have risen to greatness seem to have done so as a result of a traumatic experience, tough times, endless struggle, etc. I feel such an ambivalence: I look forward to growing, but fear what tough experiences and pain it will take to get there.

An easy life is not a fruitful life. The more a person appropriately reacts to tough issues in life, the more character they have. I guess that’s what my mom meant when I got my first car: a thirteen-year-old, rusted, two-door Chevy cavalier…it’d been through tough times…it had character.