The Advice From My Mother That I Never Forget

My mother always told me that life is a series of highs and lows. As I grow older I begin to understand this sentiment more than ever before.

The Yin-Yang theory had it right all along. It’s such a simple theory, so basic, yet so true. There is good that exists in the bad, and bad that exists in the good. The two are interconnected.

If there were no such thing as lows, we wouldn’t be able to recognize highs. If there were no such thing as death, life wouldn’t be as special and beautiful. If there were no such thing as being weak, being powerful wouldn’t be so praised. If there were never a time for dark to fall, we would fail to appreciate the light.

You see, without the bad the good would seize to exist.

I’m beginning to think that the bad isn’t all bad and the good isn’t all good. There are lessons to be learned form the bad and too much good leads no challenge and therefore no growth. You can find good within the bad and bad within the good if you take a second and look for it.

It’s an interesting concept, one that I’ve grown to love and lean on in times when I’m facing something difficult in my life. I remind myself, “It’s moments like these that you’ll learn to appreciate the good.”

And it’s so true.

People have different theories of why bad things happen to good people. Some people lean on religion remaining reassured that it’s all in God’s plan. Other’s stick with a simple lighthearted, “that’s just life.” And many people are still struggling and searching for an answer to this open-ended question. I was one of those people once.

When my grandfather, a man who had done extraordinary amounts for his family and friends expecting nothing in return, passed away too early I found myself, quite obviously very sad, but also extremely furious as to why something so bad would happen to someone so special and giving. I couldn’t understand it. It wasn’t fair.

But maybe I was never supposed to understand it.

Maybe all our questioning is worthless, maybe it’s all explained right there in the Yin-Yang theory.

Life is a mixture of the good and the bad and in order to experience the good, you’re going to have to experience the bad. In order to feel happy and secure, you’re going to have to know what it feels like to be sad and insecure. In order to recognize togetherness and friendship, you’re going to have to have been lonely. In order to see the full beauty in pregnancy and birth, you’re going to have to have to have lost someone special.

You’re going to have to face some horrible days to be able to fully appreciate the good ones.

Be prepared for a life of highs and lows. A life of both sadness and happiness. Of good and bad days. Be prepared to face hardships as well as fortune. Be prepared for it all.

Like my mother said, life is a roller coaster. It’s full of highs and lows, but my gosh, its most definitely worth the ride.