Life is difficult. How difficult? That depends on the person, and the time.

The one thing I think every one of us can say is, from our own perspective, a “perfectly easy life” is unattainable. That doesn’t make all lives bad. It also doesn’t mean every individual has had sufficiently hard times to make it possible for them to understand the tribulations suffered by any other given human.

I think though, that there are very few (if any) folks who haven’t undergone a level of difficulty as a result of being a “victim” of some thing or other.

I also understand, that people cannot possibly comprehend what it means to be a victim of a given thing from the same vantage point as another, even if they’ve been a victim of the same thing. In fact, I have to acknowledge that technically no two people can even “fall prey to” the same thing.

The cause of their ill may be the same, be it cancer, the loss of a wife or husband, being shot, or something much less severe than any of the aforementioned; not forgetting there are many circumstances “on par with” or potentially even worse than the things given as examples.

It’s understood by anyone who’s thought about this in any depth, that dealing with a variety of situations can be more difficult than those looking in can understand or recognize.

That being said, you should also be aware that there are those who have likely undergone things the like of which you’ll never entirely grasp. You may never come to comprehend the difficulty seen by various unfortunates out there.

I don’t say this to shame or belittle anyone. In fact, I readily assent to the idea that I am in the same boat. Chances are pretty good I’m a bit of a wimp considering the relative ease in which I’ve done my time on this planet. After all, I was brought up in two of the “richest” countries on the Earth, the United States of America and Australia. My parents were relatively well educated, they stayed together (even when they may not have always desired to), and raised their children as a couple.

These simple facts put me well ahead of many individuals out there—even ones having been raised in relative peace and security, in the same sorts of places as the ones in which I was reared.

And yet, there are a number of people, not just in the U.S. (though there are certainly plenty there) who have battled from sometimes literally horrific situations, to places that surely must look to us and them like the realization of fantastic imaginings.

Some of them suffered through the direst, darkest of days. Some dealt with conditions that made it impossible for them to make any but the slightest movements—Stephen Hawking comes to mind here. Some endured pain on a daily and ongoing basis in measures mere mortals like myself can in no wise comprehend. Yet in the end, they accomplished things one can barely believe were possible.

The point here, is that a great many very successful denizens of this ball of dirt, could easily be termed “victims”—and in some very important senses, you would not be remiss in referring to them as such.

If you had asked them, or do ask the ones who are still around, “Are you, or have you ever been, a victim?” I’m quite certain many of them would indicate the affirmative—would, quite simply, answer, “Yes.”

Here’s the thing though. While it may be true that many very well known, wildly popular, amazingly able folks could, can, or will, allow the idea of their victimhood, I would bet that, the greater their accomplishments, the less they dwelt on that fact.

You see, it’s not a question of whether they found themselves on the wrong side of some bad situations. What is a matter for consideration? That they chose to “soldier on” and to accomplish things of import to themselves and often many others, difficulty aside.

Did they still suffer? Absolutely! Was it by all means always easy for them to continue on? I’m quite sure it wasn’t. The important thing though is, they realized that if they wanted to accomplish those things for which they strove, persistence and an almost single mind towards those ends was necessary.

That doesn’t mean they never bemoaned their fate. I’m not suggesting there weren’t times when they felt so badly for one reason or another that they were unsure they could proceed.

Some time ago, I started to write a piece. As is periodically the case, I’m not sure I ever finished it (you might say this little essay is its fruition). That work was entitled something along the lines of “Life Goes On.” The intended main point of the essay, was to indicate that, no matter how you feel, regardless what’s occurring in the current moment, life doesn’t just magically stop. You’re not awarded an “extra life” in video game parlance, either.

You’ve a choice to make, and often it’s anything but a cake-walk to make it. Are you going to allow current circumstances to dictate your future, or will you continue through hardships to at least try to reach those goals or ends you believe are attainable and worthwhile in your distant (or even nearby) future?

Like it or not, playing the victim is not typically consistent with such work.

Keep in mind, I’m not trying to say, “Nobody is, nor should anyone ever behave as a victim.” Rather, I’m trying to make it clear the reveling in victimhood is neither useful, nor will it likely help you to achieve desired ends.

I cannot know your life. I cannot feel your struggles, your hardships, your difficulties, your pain. Even so, I can tell you that, those things aside, you can be a victor, and hopefully to a greater degree than you are or ever were a victim. Being brave, acting when you feel you’ve no will to proceed isn’t easy. It is possible though; just ask the many who’ve proven it.

Thanks for reading, and may your time be good.