Off The Mat.

"What sweet melody that is the beating heart. What exquisite harmony that is the ticking clock that marks our time until the end. What felonious hope is it that we will live to see the end. What fools these poor mortals be." - Me (some Shakespearean inspiration. Not to mention Poe)

Ambition is a funny thing. We place so many of life's chips on a plan working out. We have goals. We have ventures that we plunge head first into - time and time again. What sheer hope and determination we place on the heavy fog that is our future. And, to what actual evidence do we sink our anchor into? Rarely more than the utmost of scant top soil. And, yet, as a species, we persevere. Despite all obvious evidence, like the bumblebee, we overcome and spite the odds against us.

"What fools these mortals be."

Don't get me wrong - there is nothing wrong against a dream. There is nothing wrong with giving life your absolute all. There is nothing wrong against going up against all odds.

My point is that we, as the human race, flat out refuse to cave to the audacity of success. We as a species has and will always be the underdog (in the grand spectrum of things). But, by gum, we will, time and time again, out think and out breed all of our obstacles. Why? Because we can. Because we do.

If I am currently sounding on the more cynical side, that's because success is a cruel mistress. The chips will always be stacked against you. The thing of it is, due to our quite ample population, we overcome all odds.

I mean, we walked on the moon and have sent satellites past our known solar system. What other terrestrial species can claim this? None.

The point of all this is that life and (and repeatedly will) give you a solid and swift kick to the proverbial genitals. Suffering, pain, unfathomable tragedy: that's all of the package deal of this existence. It can happen. It will happen. You are not, nor will you ever be immune to it.

So, the real question is not can you get back off the mat after life deals you a solid and low blow. The true quandary is how many times you will rise and rise again.

Because, suffering is inevitable. It's how you scrape yourself off and rise from the ashes is what truly matters.

And no one will ever answer that but you.