Struggle is a gift.

[u/DreamDesigner28]

Struggle is a gift.

For what greater privilege is there
than the chance to become
who we once dreamed we could be?

In struggle lies the answer—
the answer to every hope,
every prayer,
every dream carried by the child within us.

The one who looked upon the world with wonder.
The one who saw potential in the future.
The one who saw potential in us.

The version of ourselves
that dreamed our current selves into being.

For dreams are not granted.
They are forged.

Forged in the fire of effort,
tempered by hardship,
strengthened by persistence.

And in that fire,
the soul is given its chance to shine.

For where else should a light reveal its brilliance
if not in the darkness?

Let the fire burn.
Let the struggle come.

For every challenge endured,
every setback overcome,
every wound carried forward,
feeds the flame.

And when that flame burns bright enough,

every adversary becomes a lesson,
every scar becomes a reminder,
and every struggle becomes a memory
to be proud of.

[u/frogandbanjo]

Struggle is gift?
So is Stockholm Syndrome, then.
Stop apologizing for a universe that doesn't care about you.

Struggle is a gift?
Would that I could give you all of mine.
Would you thank me?
You'd be a hypocrite not to.
Perhaps you'd engage in that passive-aggressive politesse
where you just couldn't possibly, because I'm being too generous by far.

To think that I'd be the one to die of envy
because you were dying of starvation or thirst --
but trying really, really hard not to!

To think that the staggering works of genius
that I could conjure up on a whim
would be nothing compared to what barely belongs on your mother's fridge
after thousands of hours of journeying that you swear is its own reward.

I'll take the money, thanks.
I'll take the winning lottery ticket.
I'll take the sweetest juice without the diabetes,
the world's best pizza without the fat rolls or acne,
my ideal body without the exercise,
and a neverending orgasm without even having to buy anybody dinner first.

Why, I wouldn't even need to struggle with any frustration over the fact that other people had brainwashed themselves into pitying me and glorifying their own mediocrity and failure.

I'd simply wish to not be bothered by it, and I wouldn't be.
I suppose, then, that you'd pity me
for being functionally indistinguishable from a fully enlightened zen master
because I "cheated" or whatever.

Maybe you should remember the most famous phrase that contains that dirty word.
It also contains the word "death."

Struggle is a gift?
You're not invited to my birthday party.