Choices By Dr. Juan Harrison

I’ve noted over the years that a neighbor losing a job is a recession; you or a spouse losing a job is a depression.  It all depends on your perspective.  In recent years as we’ve both gotten older, we start to complain about some health issues only to remind ourselves of friends who have months to live, continue dealing with the loss of a child or spouse, and are staring financial collapse in the face.

Every so often we will hear about a member of a prominent family or a successful businessperson in the community who had to become institutionalized or been prematurely placed in a care facility.  As we watch their fall from prominence, we’re reminded that going up the ladder is a lot easier than coming back down.  One day you may be envied for your status or prominence; the next day you’re surviving at the hands of caregivers who may not have a clue about your former status or who your family is or was.

Life goes on.  A friend pulls out into traffic.  A friend’s child chooses not to battle demons anymore or maybe unknowingly takes something meant only to give a brief high but resulted in a permanent low.  The rest of the family is left behind to hold things together.  Sadly, many times the family of survivors struggle through divorce and family disintegration as guilt and regret take over.

Success exacts its own costs.  Sometimes it’s higher than anticipated.  Failure of businesses in their first year is relatively high.  Most projects in life cost more and take longer than expected.  Passing the empty storefronts around town remind us of the challenge of surviving in a competitive business world.  Some succeed and survive; some don’t.

Life can change in the blink of an eye.  Frank S. used to sing, “That’s life, riding high in April and shot down in May.”  I regularly remind us that it’s not so much about what happens to us as it is how we respond to it.  A Go Fund Me can only supply a few of the needs we might have.  Be it victor or victim, it primarily depends on how we face adversity.  Are you gonna be the lawnmower or the grass, the windshield or the bug.  When trouble heads our way we may get some momentary relief or support, but eventually the battle boils down often to a lonely one as we give in to defeat or gear up for war.  That’s about the time we look around and see others who have faced dilemmas like ours.  Wise folks look at those who have tackled life’s challenges head on and fought life to a draw.  In time we may find ourselves starting to fill in as role models for others to follow.  Half empty.  Half full.  We’re still here on this side of the dirt.  Through it all maybe the Good Lord still has a task or two left for us before Death or the Rapture calls us home.

 By Dr. Juan Harrison