With a world population of over
With a world population of over
7.2 billion people of various cultures, ethnicities, and languages, one thing unifies us all: we have all experienced hardship and struggles. Some of us have experienced it more tragically than others – victims of the Holocaust and Hurricane Katrina, those living in poverty or experiencing racial segregation, etc. – but, at one point or another in our lives, we have all come face-to-face with struggles, either in our marriages and family relationships, our jobs, making ends meet, graduating from school, battling physical and mental illnesses, parenting, bullying, etc.
Most people would say living an easy life without difficulties is a good thing. And who would wish for a tough life? But perhaps experiencing struggles – in reasonable amounts and manners – is necessary in order to grow stronger and to make us appreciate where we have been, where we are going, what we have, and what we have done. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in life.
Our personal journeys, accomplishments, etc., wouldn’t have the same value
or meaning if they always came easily.
Isn’t it satisfying to accomplish something you’ve worked hard for and struggled to obtain knowing the bumps, bruises, and
set-backs you encountered and overcame along the way? Sure, sitting back and
enjoying the ride would be much easier, but would you feel the same sense of
accomplishment and appreciation if it were simply handed to you?
One of the most impressive aspects of human struggle is when challenges and pain can be transformed into opportunities, clearly demonstrating the strength, power, and resilience of the human spirit. Sometimes our struggles, or those of
others, inspire us to do good things for
other people.
The Pontiac is full of examples: the
family of Debbie Smith, who was killed by a distracted driver last year, organized a fundraising walk in order to offer
scholarships to students pursuing careers in nursing (June 17, p. 37); many cancer victims or families of loved ones who are battling the disease or who have been lost to it joined together during the Pontiac Relay for Life to raise over $100,000 for the fight against cancer (June 03, p. 4); the Pontiac’s population has voiced clear support of the Journal’s struggle against the restrictions placed upon it by the Office de la langue française, which made major headlines and placed the spotlight on this little-known region (May 6, 20, June 3, 17 issues). And, in this issue there’s a call to help Brent Nugent, who suffered severe spinal injuries several years ago, with a fundraising campaign for a specialized vehicle. These are only a few examples of how our community members reach out and support each other in difficult times.
As Napoleon Hill, an American author said, “Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.”
Allyson Beauregard, Editor
