Week 14/2

Two takes on the same theme

If you do something that others consider hard but for you it is coming naturally does that count as a challenge?

On the other hand tackling something that is a huge obstacle for you but not for others is that a challenge too?

Sorting through the many different definitions to achieve  any sort of understanding is hard and  essentially they all use the same terminology; engage, fight, compete, confront, test, demand, victory.

Flooded with all these power charged words one has to assume that a challenge has to do with big powerful occurrences. That it is always teamed with drama and at least a mild level of aggression. That only few can face up to and emerge victorious.

But what about those who go through life just performing their regular tasks? Yes, here the terminology strikes again, regular folks, daily tasks, so plain and unassuming almost boring.

Somehow it seems that going through life’s regular tasks and performing them to the best of our abilities is as challenging as any duel, only longer. Being born is a challenge, going through the different stages of maturity is risky and full of obstacles, finding the right mate, creating a family, giving birth and tending to our children needs. Protecting them and directing them through the endless issues our changing world is making them face. And through all of it holding a steady job, maintaining a stable and safe household, remaining supportive, encouraging and above all calm.

It seems like a challenge all right, actually it seems like such a colossal challenge it is almost impossible to fathom how one person can tackle it alone. 

***

Some people look at life as a huge mountain situated in front of them ominous yet alluring. They know they’ll have to climb to make it to the top, to be winners, to stick their flag at the top and declare success. But on the way up they might at times make a very slow progress, lose their breath or periodically even slide back. Sadly enough when they finally make it to the top and are able to take a deep breath and take in the view they often wonder what was the purpose of all the huge effort? Now it is going down all the way and they could have reached that same point by following those other folks who decided not to climb at all and go around the mountain. Could they decide to stay up there, on the top of the mountain? Or like the old cliché it is lonely at the top and it looks so much greener and inviting down there in the valley.