Can You Choose Your Hard?

I have seen this posted several times in the past few days. It has floated around as a meme so I don't know who the original author is. I understand what he or she is trying to say but this is a very simplistic, black-and-white view of life. To be fair, these words may encourage some to be more intentional with their choices and not let the hard just happen to them. I get that. But SOMETIMES it just isn't quite that cut and dry.

Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard. 

Obesity is hard. Fitness is hard. Choose your hard.

Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard. 

Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Choose your hard. 

Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can choose our hard. Pick wisely. 

The truth is that you can try your best to choose the right "hard" and still end up with the other, or with both.

You can work your hardest to have a healthy marriage and still be abandoned or abused or betrayed.

You can work your hardest to be physically fit and still be obese, often for reasons others don't see or understand.

You can work your hardest to live a frugal life and still go into debt when an unexpected expenses or tragedy come your way.

You can work your hardest to communicate clearly and still have your words misunderstood or twisted to mean something you never intended.

No, life is not that simple. We don't always have control. We don't always get to pick the hard we get. Sometimes the hard picks us.

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