Attack the Obstacle

Archimedes: If you give me a large enough lever and a fulcrum on which to place it, I shall move the world

     There was once a man born in 1918. His entire world was divided by race. His father died at a young age and all throughout his childhood he heard stories of his ancestors valor during wars of resistance and dreamed of leaving his own mark on the world. As he grew up, he vowed to be the first in his family to go to school. Often times, he was the only native in his class and was tormented for it and even faced expulsion. Still, he yearned to overcome these obstacles and make a difference for his country. After his schooling was complete, he began to leave his mark. Activism that led to change in his racially divided country was his mission. This led to multiple arrests and eventually he was convicted of conspiring against the government. Avoiding a death sentence, his 1964 conviction led to life in a 8 foot x 7 foot jail cell. After 27 years and 8 months in prison, he was released. This man was Nelson Mandela. He went on to win the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize for putting an end to apartheid and became South Africa's first democratically elected President in 1994. He became one of the worlds greatest humanitarians up until his death last week.

     Like many stories, great obstacles can lead to bigger opportunities. Taking the easy way out is never the answer. If Mandela would have chosen the easy route, the same issues South Africa faced since the 1800's could still be going on today. You might think that with less problems in your life, everything would be easier. That may be true but will your life be better? The answer to that is No! Without challenges, obstacles, tragedies, and failures, our lives would be less, not more. If you want to be more (fill in the blank) you have to overcome the obstacle that is standing in your way. Embracing this will give you the courage to move forward when difficulty eventually knocks on your door! So my challenge to you is this: think of the biggest obstacle holding you back. Pick it, attack it, and pass it. Keep this process up and you will live a fulfilled life! I will leave you with this question: How far are you willing to go to get there?

Chris Fluck