“Adversity introduces man to himself” Anonymous

It was printed on a bookmark sent to me from a friend who is fighting Parkinson’s, and it made me smile.  Not because I want to wish adversity on anyone, but because I identified with the statement.  It seems that when we are faced with a dire situation physically, financially, or emotionally, when we look back on that experience we recognize qualities we didn’t know we had.  Sometimes it is a good quality such as being steady and resourceful under pressure.  Sometimes we see our faults and we can work to correct our quick temper or pessimistic tendancies.

Perhaps that is why humans find ways to challenge themselves physically, or mentally.  We desire to push our limits and see just who we are when things aren’t in our favor.  I know that pushing myself in training will only pay off in the future.  It makes the discomfort, whether at mile 20 in a marathon, or day 6 of a backcountry hunt, more bearable, because I have felt this before, and I survived.

Use this quote when the going gets tough, cause I know you are tough, and you will get going…