Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player was dying of AIDS which he got due to infected blood he received during a heart surgery in 1983. He received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed: “Why did God have to select YOU for such a bad disease???”
To this Arthur Ashe replied:
Over 50 Million children started playing tennis, 5 million learnt to play tennis, 5 lakh learnt professional tennis, 50 thousand came to circuit, 5 thousand reached Grandslam, 50 reached Wimbledon, 4 reached the Semi finals, 2 reached the finals and when I was holding the cup in my hand, I never asked God, “WHY ME?”
So now in pain how can I ask God, “Why Me?”
I believe greatness does not come from achieving great things, rather from acceptance of everything in life. Graceful acceptance of whatever nature has in store for the individual. Just as we do not generally complement nature for the abundant blessings it showers on us for free from the moment of birth – by way of life, health, family, education, talents and potentials, etc., so also we do not have the right to complain when nature bestows us with pains, sufferings and failures.
It is human to blame our failures and pains on the circumstances and seek to improve such a problematic situation, because people can’t change. It is devastatingly untrue, because in actuality what need to undergo is individuals and not circumstances. Our lives will be imprisoned if happiness is dictated by circumstances.
Life becomes a gift and happiness our birthright not when the situations surrounding us become perfect, rather when we are able to accept with moderation whatever situation we are placed in at a given moment. We have no right to complain for what we haven’t earned – this life itself!!!
Remember, sometimes you are unsatisfied with your life, while many people in this world are dreaming of living your life. I’ve always believed in the saying: “Happiness Comes When We Stop Complaining about the Troubles We Have and Offer Thanks for All the Troubles We Don’t Have.”
Happy living!!
