RISING ABOVE ADVERSITY
Everyone whatever country they live in, rich or poor will at some time in their lives experience difficulties in one form or another. Having lived in the UK for the past forty years and having travelled extensively throughout the world and seen how people live and manage within their different cultures has enriched my life, not only has it broadened my mind but it has taught me how to see things from different perspectives. The majority of those living in more affluent countries always find something to grumble about or be dissatisfied with, the more we have the more we want, in the poorer countries and third world they have little apart from the bare necessities and sometimes not even those. They accept this in their daily lives and I have seen them smile far more than they do here, they have within them a hopeful outlook not a hopeless resignation, a tenacity and belief to survive against incredible odds, and still remain cheerful. I have been to countries where there is poverty, hunger, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and devastating floods, where people live through times of stress admirably, and even when having lost everything they learn to rebuild their homes and do not want to leave.
The only time I have seen them to be restless is when the materialism and technology of the affluent countries has reached them and tempted them to seek a safer environment and what at first appears to be a better way of life. Who can blame them for wanting to escape from their devastating conditions and make a better life for themselves and their families. Where ever they come from there are those who seek to advance themselves, who want more security, better education and an easier life, and this is good if they succeed and it makes them happier, I have spoken to people who still think that the streets of London are paved with gold, and it may be true to them in comparison to the situation where they live, what many do not seem to realise is that they could be facing adversity here, if they have homeless beggars on the streets in the country where they come from they will find them here too, homeless people both young and old sleeping in cardboard boxes on the streets, not all of them are lay abouts and drug addicts some are well educated and have lost their homes through circumstances not of their making, young people while trying to achieve a good education find themselves in dreadful debt and unable to have any opportunity of ever owning their own home due to the housing situation, elderly people left to fend for themselves without help, and if you think that our national health service is great you may find yourself way down on the waiting list.
Every country has its political problems and granted some more than others, I have mentioned just a few small examples that anyone can expect
here in the UK, and there are more. We also have our climate problems to mention one recent example. 30,000 people are homeless due to terrible
floods, 7 people killed and 40,000 uninsured houses and flats damaged, 100,000 people affected by the deluge, there is looting, fear of disease,
and our government are slow to act. Please do not misunderstand me I love my country, but with the thought of so many immigrants coming here it
may well seem to them that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, I am just pointing out that we all have to rise above adversity
at some time in our lives where ever we are, and running away is not the answer, or taking advantage of anothers seeming prosperity, do you think
the wealthy do not have problems? The more they have the more responsibility they've got. Money definitely helps but it does not solve the emotional
problems in their lives. What ever our circumstances where ever we are if we are looking for a secure home it's important to know that our home
is where our heart is and is certainly what we make it, any effort that we have to make overcoming catastrophe where ever we are, even if we do not
have a roof over our heads, we are all where we need to be wether we realise it or not, all we have to do is make it work, I have met those from other
countries and UK who have done just that, they are my heroes and heroines who have universally overcome adversity.
Michael A Andrews
