Life is not equal

This belief that everyone is created equal and that we all have the same chance to succeed in life is fundamentally flawed. The truth is that we are not all created equal in our ability to achieve success. Every person has a unique set of strengths, which can aid in achieving the success they desire. Conversely, each person also has their own unique set of challenges that inhibit them in achieving such success. We are meant to share our strengths with those close to us and resolve the challenges we face together.

The United States is the most powerful nation in the world but it spends less on helping the poor than most other Western nations. Increasingly more people take on the attitude, “Why should they get help when I never did? I turned out fine.” But that belief is not true. If you “turned out fine,” then you did receive help along the way, whether it is from family, teachers, or friends, and it was this help that contributed to where you are today. Not everyone is lucky enough to grow up in a nurturing environment and it is these people that we should try and provide support to.

If a child is born disabled or grows up in a poor, abusive, or criminal home, they do not have the same chance at success as a child born healthy, to a high-income, loving family that lives in a nice neighborhood. The former will start school approximately 1.5 years behind other students and by third grade, they will be three years behind their peers educationally. These are the facts. In this situation, most children will never be able to catch up and this will subsequently affect the rest of their lives....we put forth the idea that you must focus your life on others – not on yourself – if you want to gain a feeling of satisfaction and meaning from the days you spend here. In other words, we are not here for ourselves, but rather here for each other. The basic purpose of our lives is to help others and to work to make their life more enjoyable. In spite of this point, many people remain focused on themselves – their feelings, their possessions, their experiences – for years and years only to find that such focus never results in true happiness. If you are on a track like this and want to change your life, simply move your focus from yourself to others and get out and help as many people as you can this week, this month, this year, this life.

Hold that thought for a moment…

The fact that we are all unique and different creates a community in which we are able to do many different things in support of the individuals who are a part of our city, our nation and our world. Therefore, these differences are very important.

For example, if every single one of us wanted to be a doctor, we might have very short wait times at the doctor’s office, but who would sell us our groceries, or fix our cars, or fly our planes, or protect our country or…well, you get the idea. Our differences take care of this problem and work for the overall good of all people. Therefore, there is good reason to celebrate our differences even if we don’t fully understand the reason for them.

Okay, let’s keep going…

In my way of thinking, there is an intended life for each of us, and your unique qualities and interests are the clues to it. I’m not saying that your life has been pre-planned and that your exact role was predetermined for you at birth. These things could be true – I don’t know – but that’s not what I’m saying here. I’m saying a couple of things – one, that it’s intended for you to live your life for others and that, if you only live for yourself, you will miss the real purpose of living. In addition, I’m saying that there is an individual inside of you with interests, abilities, insights, knowledge and feelings that are unique, and you are expected to take these ingredients and turn them into someone special.

The Life of Akiba

When Akiba was on his death bed, he bemoaned to his rabbi that he felt he was a failure. His rabbi moved closer and asked why. Akiba confessed that he had not lived a life like Moses. He began to cry, admitting that he feared God’s judgment. At this, the rabbi leaned into his ear and whispered gently, “God will not judge Akiba for not being Moses. God will judge Akiba for not being Akiba.” From the Talmud

It’s Not about Fair and Equal, It’s about You

So, if you expect the world to be fair with you, let me tell you this…

Give up on that thought right now because it will never happen.

If you think that you and your circumstances should be equal to that of others around you, let me remind you, there is no chance that will ever be. Liberty and freedom create a playing field, not guarantees or equality. If you spend your life "wishing you were like someone else," you will be wasting your opportunity to live your life - and missing your chance to realize your own unique potential.

Once again, life comes down to choices. How you decide to use the opportunities that you have – whatever they might be – is up to you.

Choose not the easy way,

or what other people do.

But choose that very special route,

that was designed especially for you.