This one is about the fleeting nature of life’s challenges.
I recently returned from an eight-day motorcycle trip in Myanmar, formerly called Burma. Eight days on a bike sounded incredible—and the first day was. My body felt strong and the adventure was exciting. Then the second day came. I got back on the bike and immediately felt the soreness from the day before. As the hours went on, the pain got worse. Sitting in the saddle became excruciating. And there was no escaping it.
Finding a cushion in rural Myanmar isn’t exactly easy. But somehow, in the middle of nowhere, there was a turquoise throw pillow on the side of the road. It helped—though it certainly didn’t solve everything. The pain remained, constantly in my awareness. I had to remind myself over and over: this will be over soon.
When I finally returned home, I was so relieved to be off the bike. I thought I would never forget the pain. But something interesting happened. The day after, I was only a little sore. By the second day, I barely remembered the pain at all. Something that took up hours of my attention—something that felt overwhelming and all-consuming—was almost completely gone.
It reminded me of one of the most powerful phrases I know: This too shall pass.Most of the challenges that feel unbearable in the moment are temporary. And more often than not, we forget them shortly after they end.
There are things in life that are uncomfortable, frustrating, painful, and difficult. But remembering that the discomfort won’t last forever can help us get through almost anything.
Life can be a pain in the butt sometimes. And when it is, take a breath and remind yourself: