Life is made up of a whole set of package deals.  It’s the nature of a package deal that you have to accept or reject the whole package, you don’t get to cherry pick the parts you want and reject the others.  The good usually comes packaged with some bad.  It’s part of the nature of the world we live in.

This is the problem I see with those gurus or spiritual leaders who claim everything can be great or perfect if you just look at things differently.  There is something to what they say and I agree with much of it but they over do it.  We think we have the right to demand life be great just because we exist or that it will be that way if we just imagine it.

I’m all for making the best of every situation, looking for something you can get out of each challenge or struggle and learn and grow from them.  I have said as much many times here on this blog.  However, I’m getting a little tired of people in general and gurus in particular acting like everything can be wonderful and perfect all the time.

One of the most important aspects of a good life are its relationships and this is one area where many people seem to not get the package deal concept.  If there ever was a package deal it is people.  Young people especially don’t seem to get this package concept of their romantic partners.  As soon as the move in together or get married, they set about constantly griping about the things, big and little, that they don’t like in the package they selected.  What’s worse is they think they can “change” them.  Sorry, but you bought a package.  Same with your friends.  Make sure you select carefully because a package you will get and not a piece of clay you can mold.

I choose to live in the burbs because I like the space and green surroundings.  I appreciate the peace and quiet most of the time.  But I bought a package deal.  I’m not surrounded by the cosmopolitan atmosphere of a city center and I crave that sometimes.  Instead, I get the burb culture and it definitely can be bland.  It’s a package deal.

Guess what happens when you elect a politician?  You get a package, much of which you aren’t going to like.

When you work for someone else, especially a corporation, you are trading independence and freedom for at least some level of stability and security.  When you work for yourself you are buying a different kind of package.  It doesn’t help to constantly bitch about the parts you don’t like because they come with the package.  Everything is not wonderful and great all the time.

I watched the U.S. Open Tennis Men’s finals earlier this week.  Novak Djokovic definitely experienced the thrill of victory while Rafael Nadal experienced the agony of defeat.  But even Djokovic suffered through the grueling and painful match with a back injury.  He had what many consider the greatest year ever in the history of tennis for a men’s single player.  That greatness came packaged with a great deal of mental and physical stress.  What about all the other players with less spectacular (or any) success?  Most elite performances are preceded by a great deal of not so thrilling practice and drills and yes even the agony of defeat.

Life has its ups and downs.  The downs make the ups that much sweeter.  Life is jam-packed with a bunch of small (and some not so small) packages – packages that bring both the good and the bad.  Accept that and life can be wonderful.

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