I try to visit with my daughter most days after work. After all, this is why I live here. To give her a happy life with both of her parents in her daily life. Some days this means she comes to me, and some days I stop by to see her at her Grandmother’s house where she lives with her father, which is what I did today. Usually on days like today I’d have her Grandmother’s driver take me home since it’s only five minutes by car, but he is on vacation and I had some steam to blow off after a particularly trying day, so I decided to walk the 20 minutes home. In terrible shoes. Everyone who knows me is rolling their eyes right now because I’m famous for my poor choice in practical footwear. Naturally I began to develop blisters on the walk home, so I jokingly huffed this popular phrase to myself: The Struggle is Real. And then I got to thinking.
The struggle is not only real, it is necessary. Where would we be without struggle? We struggle to learn in school. We struggle to stay fit and healthy. We struggle to get out of bed in the mornings to get to work on time. We put up with struggles AT work to ensure that we receive a pay check. We struggle to make ends meet financially so we can have a place to live. We struggle to learn to communicate with our partners in relationships so that our relationships remain healthy. We struggle to move on from relationships that are no longer healthy or serving a purpose in our lives. We struggle to raise our children into decent human beings, all with the hope that they will someday learn to bear their own lives’ struggles with grace and humility.
Several weeks ago my ex-husband offered me an apology for the role he’s played in my struggle. It was an apology and acknowledgement I craved several years ago rather than now, but it was nonetheless an apology. I truthfully didn’t know what to say to him because I’ve worked hard to move on without his apology, but I told him I was still working on forgiveness. But today’s blistered feet inspired thinking has me wanting to not only forgive him, but to thank him for the role he’s played in my struggle. I don’t want to know who I’d be if I hadn’t gone on this journey.
I’ve never known an incredible person who hasn’t struggled in life in some way. So, as crazy as it may sound, I am thankful for my struggles. Every single one. Struggles give us perspective, without which we couldn’t truly appreciate the easier times in life.
There’s a concept in Islam that the hardship we face in this life saves us from punishment for our sins in the afterlife. Expiation. But I think it goes even deeper than that. Whatever struggle you’re facing in life, be it emotional, physical, financial, or spiritual, know for sure that it is only playing a part in making you better. So welcome the struggle. Invite it in. Dance around the room with it. Open your eyes to what it has come to teach you. Know that struggle is never placed into your life to break you. It is there to make you into who you are supposed to be. To polish you. To lift you. To shape you. To save you.
Under the Abaya 
Inspiring truly 🙂
Wow! A message that I needed to hear. Very uplifting and inspirational. Much appreciated.❤️
Very nice post! Reminds me of a quote by Freud: “One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.”
I think that fits your words very well. 🙂
This struggle comes from Confucius before any and ALL organized religion.
I’m really glad for you that you’ve been able to see the positive in your struggles, and that you see yourself as a better person as a result. Sadly for me, I can’t say the same. My ex husband prevailed in a custody battle and I have never been able to forgive him. Even though our daughter now has children of her own and her father is long dead. For me, his malicious actions set off a chain of misfortune in my life, including unrelenting depression, health obstacles, two failed attempts to complete masters theses, and self esteem so low I ended up working at menial jobs way below my capabilities just to survive financially. I cannot blame all of my misfortune on his behaviour — depression may have deeper roots than a physically, verbally, and emotionally abusive husband. But I do know with absolute certainty that my daughter’s life and my life would have been much better had we not been victims of that sociopath. That is what I cannot forgive.
❤
That´s not crazy at all but very wise ! You find that idea in so many philosophies…. greetings from Viena
This is true on so many levels! Many people struggle, in different ways. Dealing with it in they way u are is so inspiring.
Reblogged this on Al-Must'arib (the vocational Mossarab).
Wow Karen, you are the first person to mention this mental illness. I truly believe your dead ex was not a sociopath but a narcissist. They have the ability to blind people for years, nice people. I can spot one a mile away now. And yes they will destroy you one chip at a time and make you think you are in control of your life, or not. They don’t care. Master actors. They can fool anyone.
Thank you for your kind input. You may be right about the narcissist diagnosis. He fits a number of the personality disorder diagnosed, so who knows? The saddest thing is that people with these disorders don’t think anything is wrong with them. Therefore, they don’t ever seek help. Everyone else is the problem. I’m sorry you had your own unfortunate experience with them. It’s something you never forget, even if somehow you can forgive.
Assalamu Alaikum! My mum is in a similar situation. She lives in Morocco and I live with my dad in Spain, 1,200 km separating us. I can only see her on vacation, and I know that’s killing her, but she is strong, and so I think you are. Ma Sha Allah your words are inspiring, and reading them has motivated me to go on and try to live with one of tge many struggles I have to. May Allah reward you for this! 🙂