Life is Hard & Not Fair: How To Welcome Unfairness In Your Life & Find Opportunity & Joy
Posted: Saturday, September 04, 2010
by Fran Larson
http://www.franniesquotes.com/
One of the hardest lessons for me to learn (and I am still learning) is that life is not fair. When I was younger I believed that if I did my best to be a good person and followed certain rules, I would have only good things happen to me. I envisioned that my life would be filled with open doors to my writing and since Jim and I had prepared financially for retirement, I knew our "golden years' would be no less that a carefree life of attending parties, traveling and giving money to our children.
I won't bore you with details but neither of these two scenarios (writing and financial bliss) worked out. I am not saying this to get your sympathy because I have a very good life and appreciate all that I have. I am just telling you because I want to make a point that life is indeed hard and certainly not fair. Just to be clear, I do not think of myself as a victim but as a visitor to the universe and it's many gifts.
However, strange as it may see, I now embrace unfairness as an opportunity and challenge to awake and stand up to unfairness to even celebrate unfairness. Bring in on!
In my research, I found this on JC; s Blogll:
Celebrating unfairness:
I love that the life is unfair. Every time somebody thinks "that is unfair" and proceeds to correct it, that person has made the world a little bit better. Also what is fair to one is always unfair to another, the other person thinks the same and the cycle of human progress continues. If the life were completely fair to everybody, would we not become lazy, boring and all same? Ethel Percy Andrus
Welcome Things That Are Not Fair And See What Happens
What is happening in your life now? Is your boss treating you unfairly? Maybe it is going to be up to you to work on changes in your place of work. Have you lost most of your savings due to the economy? This is a great opportunity to develop new skills and learn more about you. You will also learn how very strong you are. Did your relationship fail through no fault of your own? You can learn from that when you are ready for your next relationship. There are many more scenarios that I could mention but it all comes down to the same thing, "life is not fair," but it is an opportunity.
Two nights ago, I was viewing a documentary about a man who had been captured during one of the wars and was in a solitary cell for 7 years. He and some of the other prisoners developed an alphabet code that was delivered by banging on the wall. Imagine the time it took to bang out a complete sentence. However, they discussed many things over the next few years via their code. Also, to keep his sanity, he planned the next house (he would build) for his family. He planned it in his head and would make changes in his head, as if it were on paper. When interviewed, he was asked if he could live his life over again and had a choice, would be leave out the 7 years of prison confinement. He answered with a quick "no." He stated that by being completely alone (except for banging on the wall) he discovered who he really was and his inner strength.
Life was not fair for a man who spent 7 years of his life in prison while serving his country. He took this experience as an opportunity to plan his next house and develop "unfairness" into building inner strength and a positive attitude. By the way, when he was safely in America, he did build his family his "dream house."
Develop A Plan For Helping Others When Life Is Not Fair
"In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us."Flora Edwards
"You have to sow before you can reap. You have to give before you can get."Robert Collier
"You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give."Kahlil Gibran
"There is no delight in owning anything unshared."Seneca
"It is more blessed to give than to receive."Acts 20:35
"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself." Ralph Waldo Emerson
This Article has been viewed 183 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
More commentsPerhaps there is no unfairness, only exuberant expectation?
Great perspective and how else would we get the rough edges rubbed off with out abrasion and that only comes through "not fair" situations - helps us grow and stretch and become more than we were, eh? AND we aren't in heaven yet.
I find that pain usually puts me in the perfect position for a miracle Fran, down on my knees. I like you was taught that if I did well in life every thing would be A-OK. What I learned that worked is to devote everything I do to God, and then everything falls into place. I like you need the hard times to remember who is in control of my life. Your articles always show your gentleness and your strength. You are a winner in my books. , Linda D
Amazing piece and very well written one. You made some very important points here Fran. All of them were very right...Thanks for sharing...
Thank you for writing this for us. Beautiful and with resourceful encouragement.
This is such a great article.... I believe people always need to put things in perspective. I might relate the story about the guy in prison for 7 years to friends that complain about their own issues. Staying positive is the secret... it is how we must deal with the unfairness. Thanks Fran!
Here I am in Reader's Club Fran- giving you more points- you deserve them- Always- Ella
An amazing article. Accept what you have graciously and improve your life from there. Opportunity abounds but it doesn't just fall in your lap - you have to work for it. Thanks for writing.
Fran we can all learn from your writing. Thanks for all the reminders of actually how good life is even though it can seem unfair at times.
A very interesting article Fran.
More comments
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.