For all of us, life starts out in a rather simple way. We are babies craving the love of our parents, our primary requirements are food and shelter, this then allows us to grow and evolve into these little ratbag kids. We learn to walk and talk along the way (well, this is if we don’t get thrown a curveball in the form of something like a disability), we then learn to feed ourselves, go to the toilet and to even dress ourselves, but basically everything is focused on survival and safety. Then, as the months and years begin to pass, we evolve into these rabid social creatures, and with this our needs tend to expand into a long list of wants.

As we float through our lives though, you know, endlessly balancing these needs and wants, obviously many different complexities are thrown our way. Our desires may not meet our abilities, our talents may be hidden or underdeveloped, and in many cases, this is because obstacles are thrown our way. Nobody seems to be immune from challenges, plus, there is no doubt that the magnitude of said challenges can vary greatly.

We’re not all sex monsters with magic bank accounts. Actually, most of us have to commit and work very hard to achieve our dreams.

But what is behind all these challenges in life? Why are there always hiccups and hurdles? Is it because of experimentation, imaginary failures, ego, external pressures and expectation, or is it simply two lives (with varied social etiquettes) crashing into one another? Again, well to me anyway, it’s probably in most part because of this needs and wants pendulum swinging back and forth. Or heck, maybe we even need to consider obsessions (addictions) or dislikes (personal preferences) playing into the equation.

Now, something that just came up is expectations (which in some cases this could even stretch as far as a feeling of entitlement), and honestly I feel like this is a huge determinant in the way that we see our inevitable challenges. Or to be more specific, as we have become these endearing little ratbag kids, it is what we have been exposed to (and have been taught) along the way that has shaped our world view. And, in turn, our world view can create beliefs around how we think the world should be and how it should treat us. Hence, we are often led to believe that things should be a certain way – product advertising plays a huge role in this. Just cola it.

Whoa, from here this could all get very confusing very quickly, hm, nah actually I’m a bit lost already myself. So many trains of thought that could be unclear or baffling, and far out I’m the one writing this. Blimey. Which, this tells me that I should stay right away from getting into other areas like personalities, genetic pre-dispositions, heck even some of that astrological woo woo. Oh man, sheesh life is complex. But hey, this is what also makes it so beautiful. We are all so similar yet also so different.

Anyhow, no matter what our expectation or viewpoint, no matter what gift or obstacle is thrown our way, well, we just have to work with it. We just have to make the most of what we’ve got (insert bumper sticker here). And you know, with these individualised speed bumps, if we’re really lucky and we work hard enough for it, hopefully we can change, move beyond or at least see a challenge differently. Because, eek and I know this is going to sound super cheesy, but the truth is that it’s our challenges that make us exceptional. Or specifically, it’s how we respond to them that makes us exceptional.

Take risks, find adventure, start a band, kiss the girl. Don’t be the sponge who has no purpose or meaning.

So, look, I guess you can see this any way you want. You can see either Punky Brewster or Harry Potter, yeah it’s totally up to you. Free-will, truly, it’s such an amazing concept. But yeah, no matter what level of denial you live in, just always remember that when your challenges do come knocking (because they will), you really do have a choice whereby you can turn them into an opportunity.

Yep, you can see the brick wall or alternatively you can see this pile of rocks as the obstacle that you simply need to climb over.