The Hardships Of Our Forefathers

It’s important to remember that our ancestors had to endure hardships that were far more difficult than anything we face today. We should practice being more resilient and growing thicker skin.

My life has not been perfect. I spent four years living in the land of mysterious illness, scared and uncertain, before being diagnosed with a cascade of immune dysfunctions. It would take an additional four years to find some relief from the symptoms. And yet, my experience pales in comparison to my ancestors, who risks–and sacrificed–their lives to protect their families and safeguard their freedoms.

We owe to our ancestors, who paid a hefty price for us to be here, to be our best selves, and to toughen our minds, body, and spirit. So that, one day, when we see them in the afterlife, we can look at them in the eyes knowing that they did not sacrifice in vain.

It frustrates me endlessly to see people get worked up over some comment they saw on the internet. Who cares? How does it impact you? Why lets the troll dictate you mood and morale? Take a step back, and look at the bigger picture. Consider the full scope of human history, not just the small sliver that is today.

I’ve written before about the death of humor in America. In some tangential way, I think it is related to the perceived modern-day hardships. It almost feels as if people make up reasons to be upset.

I’ve notices that the easier one is to offend, the easier they are to control. In order to offend me, I must first respect your option. Unless you have earned my respect, you have no power over my emotional state whatsoever.

I can’t help but reflect back on colonial America, where my ancestors worked as blacksmiths and millwrights, and fought in the American Revolution. When banding together to fight tyrannical overreach, were they caught up on others’ clothing style, vernacular, and trivial dramas in the community? It’s doubtful.

After their own ancestors had undertaken a treacherous journey to start a new life in an unknown land, they were focused solely on preserving their hard-won rights.

I’ve surely said it before, but life has become too easy and humanity, as a whole, is becoming soft. While “soft” qualities, such as empathy and understanding are important, this age of emotion of decimating our capacity for logic and foresight. We lack the skills, courage, and fortitude necessary to face true adversity. And I wonder if true adversity is coming, hard and fast.

“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”

G. Michael Hopf

We’re living in, objectively, good times. Most of us have everything we need to get by, in excess. Anyone reading is likely not concerned about tainted water, famine, pythons, or fever. We are instead focused on the man-made ailment of the 21st Century: keeping up with the Jones’, whether the Jones’ have a nice car or a silicone ass or an eating disorder. So few are focused on those thing which actually matter.

When I think about my own challenges, I can’t help but reflect on the sacrifices made in order for me to merely be alive today. I can’t help but feel grateful.

Beyond the obsession with the superficial, I watch in horror as America follows China down an increasingly authoritarian path with total surveillance, social credit scores, and Central Bank Digital Currencies while a vast majority of the population hardly even notice.

And I think about what made the American experiment so successful–decentralization of power and individual rights. I think about how much our forefathers gave up to set this country down the right path, and how disheartened they would be to see what has become of their progeny. Sobbing on TikTok because someone didn’t realize they identify as a frog.

We can do better that this. As individuals. As a society. And as a species.

We need to do better.