The Only Fair in Life is the County Fair

[cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]I remember going to the county fair one year when I was about ten or eleven. We didn’t have the means to go very often but the first year the Gravitron came to town I was there. After eating a corn dog my mom suggested I ride the Gravitron. Not knowing exactly what it did I got on hesitantly and five minutes later I got off looking all pale and sick. If you have never ridden the Gravitron or a version of it, it is a cool but dizzying experience. This is exactly how life is for the majority of us.

If you ever find yourself in a conversation with someone who tells you that life is fair or could be fair just turn and walk away – they are lying to you. Life is not fair and no matter how much we want it to be or try to make it fair it never will be fair. That does not mean we do not try to treat each other fairly – we absolutely should – but the truth of the matter is we are not all sprinkled with the same intelligence, athletic ability, personalities, skill sets, musical tastes, cultural interests, physical prowess, physical or mental health, etc. We are as varied as colors and while all those variations make us individually unique it also creates unfairness.

As I have mentioned before I have MS and I also don’t have the greatest of luck. For some everything goes their way, for others things go the opposite way. There is rarely a rhyme or reason for our circumstances. I wouldn’t call it fair that one person who lives a corrupt life lives to 80 while another person who is generous towards others gets cancer and dies at 25. I wouldn’t call it fair that some people have the innate ability to market themselves and get better jobs while those more qualified get overlooked. I wouldn’t call it fair that just last week I slipped and fell, hurting my back in the process. Life is not fair and it’s irritating at times that it’s not.

That is life, a crazy mess of different ups and downs. That is why I think the only fair in life is the county fair. Moreover, life is more likely to be a county fair itself. One ride in life may jar you, one may create ups and downs, one may scare you, one may make you dizzy, while other attractions such as the ring toss have a house advantage. Some people get on rides they thoroughly enjoy while others get on a ride that makes them dizzy, scared or sick. We are not all the same and never will be – life is life.

What do we do then if life isn’t fair? You still live it. We still pursue enjoyment out of life. We grapple with the things we have to, focusing more on what obstacles lie in our path rather than what lies in other’s paths. We forgo the crippling game of comparisons – “why is his life so much better than mine?” – and we fight the good fight that is ours to fight. For me it’s fighting against MS and my constant series of unfortunate events. For you, well, only you know what you fight against. But whatever it is fight the good fight, run the good race. And though the only fair in life may be the county fair we choose to still live to the best of our ability. Let’s live it.

Attempt it. Chance it. Try it. Get to It!

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