Dear Guaranty:
Like every one of you, I go through periods of my life where everything I do seems difficult, every task I am handed seems hard, every decision I have to make is unpleasant. I can feel very sorry for myself at these times and complain about how hard my life is and why it can’t just be easy. Eventually, I realize that it is these hard times that make me stronger, not the easy times. I was reading about how iron is made, and a couple of things I learned is that in order to make a strong piece of iron, you need to heat it and hammer it. Heating iron makes it malleable, so it can be shaped and hammering it drives out impurities that weaken the metal. This is a lot like our own lives, sometimes we need to be softened up before we can be forged into something stronger and hard times do that. It is not always pleasant either the softening up or the hammering down but you can be better and stronger at the end of it just like a piece of iron.
Almost every successful person I have known has endured setbacks and struggles to become successful. Most Olympic class athletes in any sport have dealt with numerous personal struggles or severe injuries to get to the podium. If I have gained any wisdom at all in my years on this earth, it is because I have made so many mistakes along the way. So, if you are having a tough time in your life right now, take heart, it won’t last, you are being prepared for success at the end of it.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Ed
