Can't enjoy the sunshine if you never have rain

My philosophy of life is, “Don't worry, be happy.”  It is a message of hope and courage and is as old as human history. It uplifts the spirit of man and encourages him to face life and its struggles boldly and fearlessly. Hope in the success of our endeavors makes us move onwards; we accept that joys and sorrows are part of our lives. Every difficulty is a challenge to our courage, so don't be cowed by the difficulties that come your way. Change is the law of nature. If winter comes, can spring be far behind? Winter is cold, barren, and bleak, and spring is the season of flowers; a symbol of hope, courage and new life. Every dark cloud has a silver lining, don't ever say die, get up and try! Every day is a new day!!
This was not my philosophy of life, earlier. For me the march through life was fraught with dangers. I was a weary, discouraged explorer setting out on the long mysterious journey of life. Every successive day became more difficult.  In my early childhood I was harassed by the alphabets and numbers that I had to learn. The squiggly little shapeless lines and sketches filled me with a deadly fear, and half-heartedly I struggled to master their intricacies.
How I wished schooldays would end, but days lengthened into months and months into years! During this period my spirits were at the lowest ebb; mathematics tormented me, science formulas were hidden assailants that waylaid me, fear was my constant companion in the Social Studies class and I had to rack my brains to learn the history dates. My plight was desperate; every turn I took in life confronted me with new challenges.
I prayed fervently, “God I do not love adventure, I do not crave for drama in life, I have no dreams and visions, I do not want to race with others, I do not look forward to perils and thrills in life, I want a simple life uncluttered without mathematics, history, etc. Is it asking too much of you?  Why wasn't I born with a silver spoon in my mouth? Then I would not have to face years of frustration, heart-breaking delays and hope for hopes that never matrialized.”

Somewhere along my journey of life I became interested in books. Not course books of study but general books. They became my constant companions. Biographies and autobiographies found a special place on my bookshelves at home. They inspired me to become another hero. History is full of examples of men and women who suffered defeats and humiliations but persevered in the hope that nothing is permanent in life; joys and sorrows come, one after another, in quick succession. Abraham Lincoln passed his early days in misery. Mahatma Gandhi had to take on the might of the British Empire to wrest freedom for his countrymen. Christopher Columbus had to fight the fury of nature and the jealousies and intrigues of men around him. Winston Churchill gave his blood, sweat and tears to his nation. Bill Clinton faced many ups and downs in his political career. Even the men of God, the Prophets and founders of religions, had a tough time doing what they were sent down on earth for.
A positive attitude can win us the battles of life. Winning a battle is not everything; it should be the only thing. When I was in Australia, I came across two young backpackers, Daniel Rooney and James Byrne from the UK, who had fallen in love with Australia. Though their money was exhausted they did not want to go back to their country. When I asked them how they were going to manage they replied cheerfully, “We will face this challenge. Don't worry; everything is going to be fine. Everything will be fine!” 
They taught me never to sulk if things don't go my way but to get hold of myself and say, “Hey Arjun, don't worry, everything is going to be fine. Everything will be fine!! Remember there is no shade without sunshine!

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