A meditation on struggle

A meditation on struggle

I’ve been thinking about something earlier today, and I just read something that Beschatten wrote in response to a question that somebody asked that got me thinking even more.

“People lose sleep over a death, not a girl. Get a grip.” -Beschatten

Several years ago, when I was in middle school, I went through a completely negative and hateful goth phase. I wore all black, I hated the world, I hated myself, I hated my life. I was full of self-pity and believed that I’ve “been through a lot of shit.” Even nowadays people tell me that I seem very mature for my age and it seems that I’ve “been through a lot.”

I’ve begun to see that that is total bullshit. What have I been through? 30+ rejections in middle school may have left me in emotional turmoil to the point of fucked up depression, but these were all just GIRL ISSUES. How could I have been such a pussy to have been suicidal over GIRL ISSUES?

My parents stayed together. I was fed whenever I was hungry. I received (and am receiving) good education. I was provided with a plethora of extracurricular activities. I was never captured and tortured. I was never forced to endanger myself. I was never sexually abused. Hell, I’ve never even been GROUNDED (grounding isn’t a standard disciplinary method in Asian cultures). I haven’t been through shit. I haven’t ever been REALLY tested to earn manhood.

I was even disappointed at my performance at one point while I was pledging for Sigma Chi. I can’t reveal details as I am sworn to secrecy, but let’s just say that I could have been more of a man.

I’ve always thought that I’ve experienced a lot of the bad shit life has to offer, but what the fuck do I know? I’ve never had it THAT bad. I’ve just been a pussy when I was a kid. What do I know of real struggle?

I’ve been exposed to some pretty bad racism and other kinds of prejudice against me. I’ve had my heart broken by countless oneitises. I’ve had to go to court. I’ve had a friend die in a car crash. I’ve had a friend die of heart attack. My taekwondo grandmaster died of lung disease. I’ve had friends of friends commit suicide. I’ve had close friends ATTEMPT suicide. I’ve had issues with my parents. I’ve had issues with friends and girlfriends. I used to have a drinking problem. I used to be a chain smoker. Someone hacked into my Neopets account and took all my Neopoints. Someone stole my credit card information. Sure, I’ve been through all that, but can I really call that “a lot?” What do I know of REAL struggle?

Everything I have been through has been completely laughable compared to the shit my own father has been through, laughable compared to the shit people over in Darfur are going through, laughable compared to the shit people in communist nations have been through, laughable compared to the hunger that people in third world countries feel. I don’t have to fear for my life on a daily basis. I don’t have to worry about how I’m going to get my next meal. I don’t have friends and family dropping like flies left and right. I don’t have to worry about the government killing me for exercising my freedom of speech. I don’t have trees falling on me from lumber work and having to drive myself to a far-away hospital while half-paralyzed from the spinal impact (props to Sean Messenger and his family). I don’t have the world watching my every move as I try to achieve something no man has done before.

“I once cried because I had no shoes. Then I met a man with no feet.” -Anonymous

Guys, we are all here to learn from each other, better our lives, and create solutions to our perceived problems. Keep a bigger picture in your minds, though, and know that any problem we may have with GIRLS… it’s really not that bad. It’s really no big deal. The struggle you face on the path of learning pickup is NOTHING compared to the struggles of REAL LIFE.

Real life turns you into a real man. Pickup can help, but it’s not the meat and potatoes. It’s just the seasoning.

I’m 18 years old, I have a head full of PUA knowledge, a resume of some solid field experience, but I haven’t seen nothin’ yet. I can’t wait to see what life has in store to REALLY test me. I can’t wait to face the hardships that life has to offer so I can develop some real, solid character. Time to step forward.

-Chief

Comments

  1. the lack of being tested can make you doubt yourself quite a bit.

  2. Ike from Germany says:

    You are a thoughtful man

  3. PUA Beginner says:

    Very well put. You have a way with words. I found this really inspiring.

  4. You are definitly right. Did you know it is a common human fallacy to compare to those who are “beneath us”. Or let’s say, to those who are less fortunate in their lives.

    A african kid came over to see a therapist after adoption. He said his mother had been killed, but it was okay because his neighbour friend has had both parents got killed.

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