THE CHALLENGE

I have several questions. I do not wish to gain enemies for posting all of these here. Neither do I expect answers from you. I just want you to reflect on all of these and learn more about yourself in the process.

Since you have gained the power to decide for yourself, have you already stood up for something you deeply believed in? Have you fought for it or at least tried to? Have you ever tested your capacity to live beyond your expectations? Have you conquered or tried out something fearful? Have you defied self-control? Have you ever chose uncertainty over comfort?

I do not know about you but I am sharing now that to a certain degree, I have done all of the above and I call it “taking the road less traveled.”

I am expressing this not to brag about myself and my “capacity” as an individual. What I do want to do is tell you how I have generally fared in such situations.

It is true I have fought for my principles and have done so repeatedly. The first time was quite scary but because I was rooting for the truth, I was strengthened by it. Many times have I spoken about what I believed in and the humbling truth about the effort was that each time I did, I always ended up alone in advocacy.

It is true I sometimes win. But usually I lose. Not because I am wrong in principles but because I am alone in the struggle.

This is the sad reality.

I have learned that in this life, there are more drifters than fighters. Many choose to just go with the tide because they are too scared to articulate their thoughts. They only whine about their predicament among themselves but do not have the fortitude to express everything in candor. I am not stating this to encourage you to be constantly at the other side of the fence and play devil’s advocate in any given situation. This is just being articulated so in time, you will consider speaking up for what you believe in as an individual.

When you have no courage to unleash the worst in you and fight for your views and beliefs, then you have yet to prove yourself worthy of ever existing. Why? Because I think living is when you have survived going against the current. It is about YOU making choices and taking sides--no matter what the odds are.

Indeed, you can not eternally remain impartial because life is never neutral. Time will come when your determination and judgment will be tested and I only hope by then, you will learn to simply answer either "Yes" or "No" to a situation and gain respect in the process. This is the challenge.