Facing hard times
R.C. Sharma

"Life is not a bed of roses. It is a struggle for existence", somebody has rightly put it. Our lives are a mixture of good and bad days. Good days pass by happily but bad days seem to linger on. To face hard time, we need patience and perseverance.

When we study the lives of great men like Churchill, Napoleon, Abraham Lincon, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose or J.F. Kennedy, we come to know that they were also victims of adverse times. But they braved the obstacles, and were ultimately successful in their adventures and missions.

Life has its ups and downs. Confrontation with hard times is inevitable. Can you name anyone who has not gone through any kind of hardship? Even the happy-go-lucky people, at one time or the other have gone through the lows of life. Remember, you are not the only one and there is always a silver lining to every cloud. The secret lies in facing, accepting and overcoming hardships as part and parcel of life. For this, we need a positive attitude and fortitude.

For example, if you miss a train, do not curse yourself or feel remorse. Nothing is gained by burning yourself up with recrimination. Fretting won’t bring the train back. It is best to relax till the next train comes. Always adopt positive thinking and positive action in your life. These will help you cope with hard times.

There are so many vexations in everyday life. But we need not get worked up. Rather, we should face such situations bravely and courageously.

Sarita is an MBA student. Unfortunately, she met with an accident that fractured her left leg. She remained in hospital for three months. This was a great setback to her studies. But she was never been disgusted with life. She always said, "It is a natural calamity. Time is a great healer. The days of sufferings will be over, one day." She never became gloomy. She was always cheerful and lively. After three months, she was all right. She soon forgot her suffering. She not only recouped physically but also made up for the loss in studies within a short period.

Miseries never come alone. Therefore, we have to face them like a soldier in the battlefield. Have faith in God if you believe that He exists. Do whatever best you can do. "God helps those who help themselves."

Once, a pussy young man went to his boss and said, "Sir, since one of the managers of our company has died, why can't I take his place? The boss looked at the lad quietly and said, "It's all right with me Jones. But I'll have to check with the undertaker first." The boss could have exploded. But he remained cool and calm. He simply didn't blow his top off at the social ineptitude of the boy and permitted his sense of humour to release the tension. Through words, he maintained self-control and faced the situation tactfully and wisely. Thus, we, too, have to face such situations in life wisely, tactfully and patiently. William S. Halsey rightly says: "All problems become smaller if you don't dodge them, but confront them. Touch a thistle timidly, and it pricks you; grasp it boldly, and its spines crumble."

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