When Hard Work Isn’t Always Enough

It never seems right to me that some people can skate through life with everything handed to them, never truly working for more than a good grade, and sometimes, not even that.  If they run into hard times, they have someone ready to dig them out without breaking a sweat.  They just always land well, you know?

Then there are others who wake up each day and, against so many odds, put their heart and soul into such backbreaking work, rarely rewarded with a day off or accolades for their contributions.

I’m not just talking about the women of Africa, shown in the picture above, or so many others I’ve seen in my travels.  I’m talking about the kids right here at home, in the good ole’ USA,  living in the ghetto trying to get ahead… the moms who are always on the go, never stepping foot inside a spa, much less enjoying  a ‘spa’ day, taking care of everyone else while no one takes care of them…the dads holding down honest jobs–like my father, a mechanic–who was on call 24/7/365 days a year nearly his entire adult life.  Before that, he busted his butt on a farm, where, even as a child, he was required to work hard both before and after school.

These people don’t whine and complain.  They get up and do what has to be done each day–with hope in their hearts that it won’t always be this hard.

Luck or fate determined their circumstance.  You can be born into the family in the million dollar house…or into the family living on the streets.  As a baby, you have no control over where you start.  Sure, as you grow you can bust your butt to get ahead, but you still have to get a break every now and then.  I’m not saying you’ll be loved more in one family or the other.  Or that the ‘wealth’ you do find won’t be valuable.  But love doesn’t always put food on the table or a roof over your head.  The people in those million dollar families are going to have access to a whole lot more opportunity.  That’s a fact.  And when life is hard, you can only keep hoping for better for so long.

Yes, you should keep on plugging, keep trying for better, because unless you’re ready to marry into those millions, should that opportunity ever come your way, odds are you’re going to have to earn your way out.

If that’s you, keep hoping and working hard. Every single day. You just never know when the stars will align and  life will turn around for you.

If you are among those whose life is easy, at least be aware of how fortunate you are, and maybe some day, when you can, make life a little easier for those who didn’t find the same luck, fate or fortune along the way.