unfair's silver lining

Have you ever noticed that life is not perfect?

Sometimes it catches you by surprise (something not panning out quite how it was planned) or reminds you at the wrong time (anger ensues).

My mother always had a knack for giving me a little "life isn't fair" reality check as a child when I did not get my way. At the time, it was the icing on the cake, the last thing I ever wanted to hear. It was true; life is not fair, but restating the obvious was almost just like kicking me when I was down.

I've grown up considerably since then (I hope) and I oddly cherish the inconsistencies of life instead of cursing them. It's not all that cliché "I'm better because I lived through it" lesson (although sometimes there is a bit of that).

It is more that I accept life's ups and downs. Problems cycle, but I feel like they offer direction to life. They help us to realize our identities, to determine what we hold dear, find out what our weaknesses are and see our strong suits.

So, next time you look to the sky to utter (or scream) "f my life," try and take a step back. You're going to be alright. Hey, maybe even better off.