“That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”
–Friedrich Nietzsche
The wisest, most loving, and well rounded people you have ever met are likely those who have known misery, known defeat, known the heartbreak of losing something or someone they loved, and have found their way out of the depths of their own despair. These people have experienced many ups and downs, and have gained an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, understanding and a deep loving wisdom. People like this aren’t born; they develop slowly over the course of time.
Angel and I have worked with thousands of these incredible people over the past decade, both online and offline, through various forms of coaching. In many cases they came to us feeling stuck and lost, unaware of their own brilliance, blind to the fact that their struggles have strengthened them and given them an upper hand in this crazy world.
Truth be told, when hard times hit, and the challenges you face are great, you can either let your situation define you, let it destroy you or let it strengthen you. The choice is yours to make.
In today’s article I want to remind you of a few powerful, yet easily forgotten truths that will help you choose wisely and grow stronger even through the hardest times…
1. Pain is part of life and love, and it helps you grow.
So many of us are afraid of ourselves, of our own truth, and our feelings most of all. We talk about how great the concepts of life and love are, but then we hide from both every day. We hide from our truest feelings. Because the truth is life and love hurt sometimes, and the feelings this brings disturbs us.
We are taught at an early age that all pain is evil and harmful. Yet, how can we ever deal with real life and true love if we’re afraid to feel what we really feel? We need to feel pain, just as we need to feel alive and loved. Pain is meant to wake us up. Yet we try to hide our pain. Realize this. Pain is something to carry willingly, just like good sense. Because you can only learn how strong you are when being strong is the only choice you have.
It’s all in how you carry the things that don’t go your way. That’s what matters in the end. Pain is a feeling. Your feelings are a part of you – your own reality. If you feel ashamed of them, and hide them, you’re letting the lies of insecurity destroy your reality. You should stand up for your right to feel pain – to endure it – to own your scars – to deal with the realities of life and love, as you grow into the strongest, wisest, truest version of yourself.
2. Mindset is half the battle.
It’s okay to have down days and tough times. Expecting life to be wonderful all the time is wanting to swim in an ocean in which waves only rise up and never come crashing down. However, when you recognize that the rising and crashing waves are part of the exact same ocean, you are able to let go and be at peace with the reality of these ups and downs. It becomes clear that life’s ups require life’s downs.
In other words, life isn’t perfect, but it sure is good. Our goal shouldn’t be to create a perfect life, but to live an imperfect life in radical amazement. To get up every morning and take a good look around in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is extraordinary. Every day is a gift. Never treat life casually. To be spiritual in any way is to be amazed in every way.
To paraphrase the poet Iain S. Thomas, “Do not let the pain of a situation make you hopeless. Do not let negativity wear off on you. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Even though others may disagree with you, take pride in the fact that you still know the world to be a beautiful place.”
Change your thoughts and you change your reality!
And mindset is especially powerful when it comes to accepting that…
3. Your biggest fears don’t really exist.
When times are hard it can be difficult to follow your heart and take another step, but it’s a tragedy to let the lies of fear stop you. Although fear can feel overwhelming, and defeats more people than any other force in the world, it’s not as powerful as it seems. Fear is only as deep as your mind allows. You are still in control. So take control!
The key is to acknowledge your fear and directly address it. Fight hard to shine the light of your words upon it. Because if you don’t, if your fear becomes a wordless, obscure darkness that you avoid, and perhaps even manage to briefly forget, you open yourself to future attacks from fear when you least expect it. Because you never truly faced the opponent who defeated you.
You CAN beat fear if you face it. Be courageous! And remember that courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid; courage means you don’t let fear stop you from moving forward with your life. (Angel and I discuss this in more detail in the “Adversity” chapter of 1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently.)
4. You are growing through experience.
Over time you will find that life isn’t necessarily any easier or harder than you thought it was going to be; it’s just that the easy and the hard aren’t exactly the way you had anticipated, and don’t always occur when you expect them to. This isn’t a bad thing; it makes life interesting. With a positive attitude you will always be pleasantly surprised.
When you stop expecting things to be a certain way, you can appreciate them for what they are. Ultimately you will realize that life’s greatest gifts are rarely wrapped the way you expected.
Experience is what you get when your plans don’t go as planned, and experience is the most valuable commodity you own – it builds your strength.
You have the power to turn your wounds and worries into wisdom; you just have to do something about them. You have to accept what has happened and use what you’ve learned to step forward. Everything you’ve experienced has given you the upper hand for dealing with everything you have yet to experience. Realize this and set yourself free.
5. You can’t change situations you don’t take responsibility for.
Sigmund Freud once said, “Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility.” Don’t let this be you. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you surrender power over that part of your life.
Make no mistake, in the end, the price of happiness IS responsibility. As soon as you stop making everyone and everything else responsible for your happiness, the happier you’ll be. If you’re unhappy now, it’s not someone else’s fault.
Ultimately, your happiness depends on your self-reliance – your unshakable willingness to take responsibility for your life from this moment forward, regardless of who had a hand in making it the way it is now. It’s about taking control of your present circumstances, thinking for yourself, and making a firm choice to choose differently. It’s about being the hero of your life, not the victim.
6. The present is all you really have to deal with.
Life is not lived in some distant, imagined land of someday where everything is perfect. It is lived here and now, with the reality of the way things are. Yes, by all means you can work toward an idealized tomorrow. Yet to do so, you must successfully deal with the world as it is today.
Sometimes we avoid experiencing exactly where we are because we have developed a belief, based on past experiences, that it is not where we should be or want to be. But the truth is, where you are now is exactly where you need to be to get to where you want to go tomorrow. So appreciate where you are.
Your friends and family are too beautiful to ignore. Take a moment to remember how fortunate you are to be breathing. Take a look around, with your eyes earnestly open to the possibilities before you. Much of what you fear does not exist. Much of what you love is closer than you realize. You are just one brief thought away from understanding the blessing that is your life.
Happiness is a mindset that can only be designed into the present. It’s not a point in the future or a moment from the past; yet sadly, this misconception hurts the masses. So many young people seem to think all their happiness awaits them in the years ahead, while so many older people believe their best moments are behind them. Don’t be either of them. Don’t let the past and the future steal your present. (Read The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment.)
7. There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.
Life is better when you’re smiling. Being positive in a negative situation is not naive; it’s a sign of leadership and strength. You’re doing it right when you have so much to cry and complain about, but you prefer to smile and appreciate your life instead.
What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you were thankful for today?
Think of all the beauty that remains around you, see it and smile. Be thankful for all the small things in your life, because when you put them all together you will see just how significant they are. At the end of the day, it’s not happiness that makes us thankful, but thankfulness that makes us happy.
8. Great things take time.
Instant results are rarely the best results. With patience, you can greatly expand your potential. If your desires were always fulfilled immediately, you would have nothing to look forward to. You would miss out on the joys of anticipation and progress.
Remember, patience is not about waiting; it’s the ability to keep a good attitude while working hard for what you believe in. It’s the willingness to stay focused, confidently staking one small step at a time, knowing that the way you move a mountain is by moving one stone at a time. Every stone you move, no matter how small, is progress.
Bottom line: You deserve more than mere instant gratification. Value that arrives in an instant is often gone in an instant. Value that takes time and commitment to create often outlives its creator – YOU.
9. Other people cannot validate you.
When we’re struggling to achieve something important, sometimes we look to others to validate our progress. But the truth is, they can’t…
You are not in this world to live up to the expectations of others, nor should you feel that others are here to live up to yours. Pave your own unique path. What success means to each of us is totally different. Success is ultimately about spending your life happily in your own way.
You don’t have to be flashy to be impressive. You don’t have to be famous to be significant. You don’t have to be a celebrity to be successful. You don’t need to be validated by anyone else. You are already valuable. You just need to believe in yourself and what you wish to achieve.
You can be quietly humble and still be amazingly effective. Just because people don’t fall at your feet and worship you, doesn’t mean you are a failure. Quiet success is just as sweet as loud, flamboyant success, and usually far more real. Success is how you define it, not what everyone else says it must be for you. (Read The Gifts of Imperfection.)
10. You are not alone.
In the midst of hard times, it’s easy to look around and see a bunch of people who seem to be doing just fine. But they’re not. We’re all struggling in our own way. And if we could just be brave enough to open up about it, and talk to each other, we’d realize that we are not alone in feeling lost and alone.
So many of us are fighting the same exact battle alongside you. We are all in this together. So no matter how embarrassed or pathetic you feel about your own situation, know that there are others out there experiencing the same emotions. When you hear yourself say, “I am all alone,” it’s just your worried mind trying to sell you a lie. There’s always someone who can relate to you. Perhaps you can’t immediately talk to them, but they are out there.
If you’re feeling desperate right now, hear me: I often feel and think and struggle much like you do. I care about many of the things you care about, just in my own way. And although some people do not understand us, we understand each other. YOU are not alone!
Afterthoughts
One of life’s greatest gifts is the fact that life is difficult. Because in dealing with life’s difficulties, we build invaluable strength. This strength enables us to successfully fulfill our deepest, most meaningful purposes. It is precisely because life is difficult that we are able to make it great. It is because life is difficult that we are able to rise above the difficulties. We are able to make a difference and we are able to truly matter.
So remember this…
When times are tough, you must be tougher. Don’t pray for an easy life; pray for the strength to endure a tough one that leads to greatness.
Your turn…
What have you learned that has helped you get through hard times? What truths do you keep in mind to motivate yourself? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.
Photo by: Rita M.
Sangeeta says
Really a good post.. and comments from others also help me to calm my mind.
Junaid Raza says
Hello Marc,
I am glad that you are sharing great stuff, and helping others to get rid of tensions. I liked your post a lot because I am of the opinion that as we are alive, we have chance to rock. Life is the most beautiful gift by our creator. Am I right?
anmol dubey says
Thanks…great post
Jane says
I truly believe that challenges make you stronger…. Recognising your own strengths and weakness and dealing with things as they happen has been my greatest lesson so far….. Not facing your challenges either because of the fear of failure or just ignoring them and hoping that they will go away only turns the little hills into mountains that then seem insurmountable…… Face your fears, recognise when you are emotionally paralysed and find the inner strength to take those little steps. Being forever present will keep you focused … Never give up on the dream and believe in yourself ….
Tina Taylor says
These words saved my life. And I mean that literally.
Rosa says
To Tina Taylor- I I feel for you. Your post touch me. My love goes to you and am greatful this article help you, It has helped me.
Rosa
Francisco Aguiniga says
Keep your head up Tina
Ashlan says
Thank you for sharing such wonderful wisdom. Just when I think I have already gone through the hardest parts of my life, it keeps giving. But I have realized that some of the greatest blessings I have come from my tragedies. If my sisters and I had not been separated in foster care, we would not be in the wonderful places we are now. I am also currently dealing with a tragedy in which I can not even know how to explain and everyone around me just doesn’t know what to say but those things do not define me. I will make the best of my own life.. I will keep reading and doing my best. Thank you.
Jessica says
Tears are streaming down my face. This article shook me straight and woke me up. I have never read something so beautiful and so true.
There are angels walking this earth. You are one of them.
Ijay says
Thank you very much. I just shared this with a friend.
God bless you
DD says
mind blowing.
I am currently passing hard time of my career. These steps really opened and cleaned my mind.
I am crystal clear now. Bolder than my earlier face.
I am ready for battle now.
Thanks and keep it up.
Donna says
I’ve learned that if the eye had no tear, life would have no rainbow.
Vivien says
Great post, I’ve saved it in Pocket app so I can come back and read it again and again.
Joanne says
Thank you for the wonderful post! It is so helpful to read and re-read to remind myself that we are not alone and it is in the challenges that we learn and grow the most. Thank you for reminding me!!!!
Rashad says
That was a great post; it really helped me and now I have a better understanding about life and how precious it is.
Beau says
Lovely post. I concur with your points here. The single hardest element for me is Mindset. I battle it constantly, as most of us do.
Fear is the mindset gripping me. Facing my worst fears forced me to recognize what holds me back. The mind’s powerful ability to shape our story must be conquered though present Being.
I try to take steps everyday to take charge of my Now:
1. Be grateful
2, Connect with people
3. Take care of myself first
4. Expand my mind
5. Take action on something no matter how small
6. Give back, do something for someone or something
7. Do my best
8. Not accept others stories for my life
9. Make healthy choices
10. Practice presence
Thank you for your post.
http://www.recoveringcareerist.com
Erik says
Thanks for the great post. I really like: The Mindset is Half the Battle – if you can keep it positive anything is possible.
Az says
What is your thought on sexual harassment or/and sexual abuse?
Az says
Apart from it being evil of course.
Marc Chernoff says
Aside from it being disgusting, the thought that comes to mind is this:
To those who have been harassed: You are not a victim. No matter what you have been through, you are still here now. You may have been challenged, hurt, betrayed, beaten, and discouraged, but nothing has defeated you. You have been delayed but not denied. The person who hurt you is weaker than you. Don’t let their weakness weaken you – let it build you.
You are a survivor. So never let go of hope. Remember what you deserve and keep pushing forward. Someday all the pieces will come together. Unimaginably good things will transpire in your life, even if everything doesn’t turn out exactly the way you had anticipated. And you will look back at the times that have passed, smile, and ask yourself, “How did I get through all of that?”
Sebastian Hepting says
Such a great post. I can deeply relate to what you wrote. Thanks for the inspiration. It’s now time to grow stronger!
Flora Morris Brown says
Marc and Angel, thanks for another compelling post. It’s so important to address how best to view and deal with hard times since they are an inevitable part of life.
I’ve noticed that when people recall their fondest memories, they often point to hard times or adversities they overcame. The strength, confidence, and resilience they gained couldn’t have been gotten any other way.
What I’ve learned to get me through hard times:
1. Remind myself that this too will pass
2. Ask myself what is the lesson I’m meant to learn from this.
3. Also ask what advice would I give to someone else in the same situation.
4. Seek clarity, direction, and comfort from prayer, meditation, positive affirmations, and reading motivational material like your blog and book.
ADC says
Thank you so much for the wisdom. It shakes me out of the hopeless feelings.
Nora says
Reading your list, I realized, it’s quite similar to the things I do in hard times, I just haven’t gathered them together. Your words helped me remind myself of that, thank you Flora.
Nora says
On the article: I read this while crying, and it meant a lot to me. I know there are people who are going through worse stuff than me, but that thought alone does not diminish the pain I have right now. Reading thoughts like this, does help though. The lesson I’m learning from my current situation is that I have to grab every good opportunity life offers me, and not linger on too much whether to do it or not. That, and connecting to people. A while ago, I wouldn’t have left a comment here, thinking my feelings would not interest anyone else, but now I feel the need to share my thoughts with you, and thank you for your words.
To the others (and myself): keep in mind, one step at a time. Maybe it’s time for crying, listening to sad music, reading writings like this – there’s no shame in that, it’s rather a necessity to get rid of a portion of the tension inside. Let’s give it some time. But then, the next step is ahead: taking action to make a difference. I wish us all the best with that.
sanduni says
Thank you so much. I feel so relieved after reading your post. Thank you so much again.
Joe says
Thanks, the article is excellent.
scott david says
Right now I’m just thinking of the good times we used to share and I miss the way she used to light up the room when she walked into it. I’ll never forget those good times and the smile when I married her. all those times at cheers nightclub and the fact she picked me to share her life with
Raluca says
I’m at the exact point in my life when I needed these words the most! I hope they stick and help me move forward… thank you!
Jane says
For me, knowing that I’m following my dreams is the greatest motivation. When I feel alone, terrified, and depressed, I still know that I am on the right path.
Angel says
this article has been a great source of positive energy and will be used as an asset for the moment & future . I’ve been having some trouble lately , career wise , but this is exactly what i needed to read. hope it helps others as much as it did for me .
Rosa says
I enjoyed this reading I want to save it to Read again and again whenever I need an uplift and understand that there is more and reason for feeling like that..
I didn’t read all the comments, but am most greatful for the ones I did read.
Cosianal Chiumia says
This post is very positive and very powerful,it may really help someone when he/she is in a dark situation
Aniekanabasi says
Great article! Your article only affirmed my strong belief but which I doubt sometimes, you have put it straight once again, I have a rock now confirmed to stand on .
Letty says
Thanks for this helpful post. 🙂
Mike says
I just happened to stumble across this article on FB and let me tell you I really needed to read this. Thank you very much. I look forward to reading more of your stuff.
Jefferson Faudan says
This is a great read! I saw this article on buffer and checked it out! Good thing I did!
Eric says
Thank u! Thank u! Thank u! I just googled “tough times”, because i was feeling really low, exhausted, overwhelmed and hopeless. My business that have built for years are doing badly. Your 10 point facts about life are amazing. I feel strong now and capable.
Thank you very much for motivating me at this tough time. I will make it!!!
Eric
Sorida says
I really thank you for this article, I was looking for words of wisdom, and this really helps me get back on my feet and realize that I can get through this.
I am truly grateful.
Sorida
Trish says
Wow what an amazing post!
I have been through so much over the past two years.
Family members have attempted to undermine me.
And the pain of betrayal unbearable.
I have felt so alone and after reading the post and the other comments I feel a sense of strength and clarity.
What helps me get through these tough times is nurturing myself.
Whether it be a walk, a bubble bath or going to a coffee shop.
Also to challenge myself.
And the feeling of pride in accomplishing something difficult or new.
Although doing these things doesn’t change the situation or the emotional pain.
It is a distraction and makes me feel better and engaged in the present.
For some reason not yet known to me, I am exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Wilson Gachihi says
These are really helping insights that I wouldn’t have just read once. I have pinned the site to revisit it on and on again.
Thanks.
Kyle Barnett says
This is an amazing post. I am in a tough place but I have to stay positive and fight through. I am strong. I lost 100 lbs in the past year. I want to keep growing. Life is not easy but I will never give up on what I believe in.
Betty says
This post really helped me today. I never imagined my life would bring me to where I am now. It’s the toughest spot I’ve ever found myself in and it’s incredibly scary. I try to reassure myself that someday, I will look back on this and know that I survived and I will feel proud, but right now, in the thick of it, it’s very difficult. Thank you for giving me some hope. This is a great post.
Greg says
I know the feeling, I am fighting my way through a
very difficult time and I’m trying to find the light at the end
of the tunnel.
Saman says
This a a very inspiring article . And I read this beautiful piece after a really long time of being away from your site. Except for the lines that I don’t agree with:
Don’t pray for an easy life , pray for strength that helps you endure a tough one that leads to greatness … I think it’s good to ask for strength in tough times but one always likes to pray for ease and comfort in life and not difficulty as it’s very humane.
Dylan Moullette says
I have actually been in the process of writing my own book. It is articulate to the thoughts and ideas that have created this post. Empowering humanity is a passion of mine that I will never forget how much it changed my life.
I could go on and on about this topic, and how it pertains to my own philosophical standpoint. However, I am more interested in the opportunity to create a chance to collaborate with you on this.
Concluding this comment, my experience of the past to create recognizance…….
“*”*”*”
I had every bad moment of my life coming up in my consciousness. Drilling into me the empathy of the ones I hurt, along the hurt of my own experiences. It was destroying me. My personality. I had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, ptsd, severe anxiety, and depression. My life was a big problem to worry about existing, in my eyes. I had put myself in terrible situations so I have a high probability of dieing. Shot in the leg. Drug after drug after drug. Alcohol. Everything that could kill me was my friend. To get away from the emotional pain. And alternate life realities of schizophrenia, I had cut myself to feel something different. Different pain than the pain upon my heart. Being put on 12-13 medications a day made me feel like a test subject. And some of them made things worse. I had blackouts, blink-2 hours. Blink-9 hours. Blink- 3 days. Blink-sitting on my dad’s body with a knife in his neck and blood pouring out of my mouth. So fuck my life, I’m killing myself. My family won’t suffer from my disgusting life. I won’t feel anything. Everything will be over. I drowned once before, it will be over quick. Pills.. fading out.. and nothing. Light appears. In a hospital. My mom crying in the corner. I’m fuckin alive. I was so pissed, I did the whole thing over again 3 weeks later. How did someone know to stop at my house the same nights I tried killing myself? No idea. I didn’t want anyone to know, they’d stop me. 4 months in the hospital and treatment. I came out in June 2015 and started drinking right away. Back into it. 2 day back owi. 4 months blurred by and check my pulse, but who am I? I’m a very different person. This is a new life. Why? I can see myself, and see how my life, my flaws, my death, all came together, so beautiful. I love myself.
“*”*”*”
Greg says
When did life get so tough?
Vishal Sharma says
I am going through difficult phase of my life. where every strategy I prepare every path I follow leads me nowhere. Rather I am finding unexpected issues now and then. So i was again upset yesterday due to yet another rejection. I wanted to keep myself Happy and calm, self motivated and positive. Your article gave me glimpse of my mistakes and I am Surely going to work upon those. Probably it’s going to take some time. But I want to comeback and live life happily in my own perfect world.
tosin says
It’s okay to cry. Have a good cry but afterwards pick yourself up and try again. Learn from the failure.
Barbara S says
I was feeling very discouraged because I’ve never gone through hard times like what I’m going through now. It feels as if no one understands me and doesn’t want to hear any of my problems and one has flat out screamed at me. I haven’t been droning on
and on ad nauseam mind you. I just wanted to hear some possible solutions about my predicament from a friend I’ve been renting from temporarily. It was just like a slap in the face so she might as well have hit me and it would have felt the same. If it’s one thing I have learned after going through the deaths of my husband and my mother back to back, it’s that you can’t depend on anyone but yourself and God to get you through life’s storms.
I went to visit my pastor neighbor that is a friend of my friend’s who lives in this complex, and he looked like he was thinking
“Oh no, well I wonder what she wants from me”. All I wanted to do was to ask if he was visiting the nursing homes again, and ask if I could go with him to cheer up some lonely residents. He replied that no he was going to church, to which I replied that I was doing the same. I figured the best way to get out of my depression and grief would be to cheer someone up, and I would totally forget about my problems. When I told him that my cell had been cut off and that I had to call my prospective employer on Monday at 11:00 and needed to borrow someone’s cell for that he didn’t even offer to help me. Well, I asked if he knew where I could get some sand here in FL and he told there was plenty down the way. I shrugged and left with my head hanging down. I got out a garbage bag and must have trudged 2-3 miles. Even though I spied some baby white powdered sand right next door, I didn’t dare cross the prickly, barbed wire fence bearing the DO NOT CROSS – PRIVATE PROPERTY line. Now there was nothing there but short palms
and vegetation, but I was not about to take the chance of being arrested just for a small pouch of sand. Some beautiful sand was glistening in the Florida sun to the right down an almost desolate dead end road. Well, I decided to take the road less traveled. I crouched to the side of the road and shoved a bushel of sand into my bag, hiding behind the sharp brush so that 2 nosey neighbors wouldn’t think I was up to something nefarious. Ah, thank God for finding some to lug back, even though I didn’t realize how heavy and cumbersome that would be. Some holes began to appear in the bottom and side so I had to use my fingers to fill up the damn before it broke. I then held it like one would caress a newborn baby. As I leisurely crossed the newly black asphalt main road, I began my sojourn home. As I was taking in the beautiful sights and sounds of the walk, of all things a nice looking moth silently floated and landed on the thigh of my
azure, long blue athletic pants. Ha, what a comforting thing that must have been sent by God alone. I was grinning from ear to ear after that! It was such an unexpected marvelous thing to happen.
I forget to mention that on the way for some sand I grabbed some ugly clayish looking earth not looking until after I had already beheld an entire ant hill in my palm. Needless to say these red ants bit the fire out of my knuckles – and the sting of around 50 ants doesn’t feel too pleasant. In addition, getting some particles of sand blown and whipped into my mouth tasted like a most unpleasant Sandwich that I don’t wish to try anytime soon. On the way home I was very shocked and amazed when a truck came barreling down the sandy road when something black like ribbon of tire flew into the air and landed flat into the road. I couldn’t believe it when it turned out to be a black snake that the previous driver had run over and whipped it into the air right beside me. This time it was a snake and it could have bitten me so I wasn’t about to stick around. At first it jerked sideways and then came to a sudden stop. I wasn’t about to get too close to see if it was alive or injured. Another truck was slowly driving down the road afterwards and I yelled at him a warning that he was about to roll over a snake and I sure didn’t want it flung into my face! Whew, I had quite an adventure today and dodged two bullets. All in all, it was a day filled with beauty, glorious sounds, and danger too. I guess God was trying to tell me that life was filled with beauty and danger, the good and the bad, but we can get through this life if we have courage and don’t get bogged down by the pitfalls.