“If it can’t get any worse, give it one last shot. Wait until the wind blows in your favor.”
– Enrique Bunbury from the song El Viento A Favor
When I was a teenager, my family and I went to the beach out here in Southern California. The water seemed calm so my nephew and I decided to go for a swim. We went in the water, walking deeper inside the ocean until the water was barely covering our belly buttons. The water didn’t seem to be too shallow that day because there were many people ahead of us. My nephew and I continued deeper into the ocean.
After taking a few more steps forward, my feet no longer touched the ocean floor. I couldn’t understand how there were still so many people ahead of us that were enjoying themselves without touching the ocean floor. Maybe I stepped into a hole or something? The waves came and pulled me deeper into an area where my feet were no where near the ground. I looked around and saw people close to me where the water only went up to their chest. Why was I the only one struggling? I glanced at my nephew, the water up to his neck and super calm.
The waves kept coming and kept dragging me, faster and faster. This time, I was really struggling. I saw the lifeguard get up from his seat and stared at me. I wasn’t sure whether to wave him down and ask for help or just wait until this passes by. The lifeguard probably thought I was joking around because no one else seemed to struggle to swim in that area. Time seemed to go on forever and I began to swallow the ocean’s water and felt like I was now drowning. I kicked harder to get away from the waves, but that only got me more tired. I was so tired that now I couldn’t wave my hand to the lifeguard to ask for help. I even thought about just saying goodbye to the world and let the waves take me deep into the ocean. I was tired with water quickly going up my nose and into my mouth. Finally, I gave it one last shot to get away from the waves, receiving an unusual burst of energy, and kicked my way to safer shores. It felt as if an angel came to my rescue and put me in safe waters.
After kicking my life away, I was able to finally touch the bottom of the ocean and, without looking back, I walked out of the water and dropped my body to the sand. My nephew followed behind me.
Out of breath, I said to my nephew, “You’re not going to believe what just happened to me!” I gasped for air to continue. “I was actually drowning this whole time…I couldn’t touch the floor and the waves kept pulling me…I was drowning!”
I looked over at my nephew and my nephew responded, “Really? Me too!” My nephew, also gasping for air explained how he went through the same experience I went through. He even said that when he looked at me, I looked so calm although the water was up to my neck. We were both drowning together and we didn’t even know it.
Sometimes, this is exactly what can happen to us. We might have some struggles in our marriage or at work, or have some issues with our kids or money problems. They seem like a never ending story. We analyze the situation and try to understand how we got into this mess in the first place. We feel down and regret our choices and the struggle doesn’t go away. Then, when we think things can improve, they might even get worse.
Many times, you might think your struggles are unique – they only happen to you. However, I can guarantee you that other people are struggling in their own way, or can be struggling just like you are. It’s never a bad time to lend a hand, or to reach out to someone to see how they’re doing. Like the funny story of my near-death experience, you never know what others are going through unless you ask or share.
No matter what you might be going through right now, whatever struggles keep you up at night, don’t give up. Stay the course. Keep your hopes up. Pray. Ask for help. Whatever you do, don’t call it quits. Everything will be OK in the end and you’ll have a great story to tell. You don’t get strength by having an easy life, you get stronger by persevering through life’s challenges. Don’t give up.
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