As children, one is always told to be like a lily and emit fragrance than to be like an oak. I acknowledge the fact that life is meant for us to be lived, to be enjoyed and like a philosopher may say," this is just a resting place." Nevertheless the analogy from nature is not relevant to human life.
Being the youngest in the family, my parents always instil in me not to worry to take chances and that only by coming to grips with difficulty can I realise my potentialities. The golden maxim has indeed pulled me through whenever I stumbled into abysmal depth of failures and difficulties. As a student, I have faced many hurdles in life both at school and at home. However I've survived like today's most successful people. They, too, undoubtedly have tasted the bitterness of life but have succeeded in surmounting it. No writer, salesperson or even business pioneer escapes failures, if he continually challenges himself. Imagine a life in which one is willing with great care: meaning, be deprived of variety, reformation and excitement. In other words living life monotonously. When people are always careful, they end up being too careful and dull. Indeed they will eventually reach their goal; however, they miss the joy of being alive. I have failed many tests and exams at school. In contrast, a former classmate of mine, who was recognised as the top student in class, hardly ever failed a single test/exam. She might be much tougher than I was academically but not so emotionally. One day she did fail a test, a minor one. She broke down and sobbed convulsively as though she had not cried for ages. Taking her as an example, such a person never accepts challenges. I am not criticising her but, by and large, people like her never rise to the bait.