Living under adverse conditions

 

Not all are born with a silver spoon in their mouth and at the same time not only those who are born with all favourable conditions succeed in life.

Born and living in adverse conditions is tough, but it’s the tough that make the best out of a given situation and show exemplary resilience and spirit of survival. “Tough times don’t last, but tough people do.” said Robert Schuller, an American Christian televangelist, pastor, motivational speaker, and author. 

This plant did not have any choice to select its place of birth. Probably a bird decided its fate and dropped a seed on the rock. Probably a little dust blown by the wind, deposited in the crevice in the rock and a bit of moisture from the dew provided it the much needed support to sprout and spread its tender initial roots. With whatever it could get from nature, it sprouted and gradually started exploring where the soil is and the water. It spread its roots over the rocks until they found more soil and a bit of more water. As it grew, it understood that self-help is the best help for survival. Its own dry leaves falling and decaying provided it the much needed nutrition to grow. The plant knew that not all days are equal. Scorching sun one day would certainly be replaced by a happy rainy day, and it waited in that hope.It could not complain and crib over its situation. It knew that envying other trees growing happily nearby in a more favourable place is not a solution.

The tough beginning, being born and growing in a hostile world might have taught several things to this plant. Contentment, patience, perseverance, conservation, thriftiness to say a few. Attracting a few birds and providing shade to small animals would have provided it little manure from their droppings. By giving something to others even in these adverse conditions it received something to itself for sustaining. If it was complacent and remained where it is, it would have died long ago. Spreading out roots until they find some soil was a tedious slow process, but the only way of its survival. Patience and persistence is the key in achieving one’s goals.

Facing tough times head on makes a person stronger. Psychologists refer to a phenomenon called ‘post traumatic growth’ where most of the people facing tough times experience positive psychological growth associated with stronger commitment to the purpose, appreciation of small pleasures in life and relations, greater empathy, compassion and helpful nature. The experience of coming out successful from a tough situation equips a person with a toolkit to deal with an even more tough situation in the future with more confidence and also to support other people who experience it for the first time in their lives.

Managing to live best in given tough circumstances does not mean not seeking a better life. The tree did not stay on top of the rock where it sprouted. It started seeking a better life, spreading out its roots longer and longer until they could reach the soil below. Procrastination and inaction can only increase the difficulties. Timely action in the right direction yields result in the long run.