Wednesday

Adversity tests character

Anyone can be calm and pleasant when things are going their way. Adversity is another matter. It is an opportunity to see how adaptable, flexible and resilient you really are.

Bad weather is a good example:

Most people accept that they have responsibilities and just get on with life, allowing a little more time and taking much more care.

Other people use bad weather as an excuse to neglect their commitments and whine about their own personal hardship. They crumple and their weakness is shown.

Two years back we drove from Durham to Newcastle (10 miles) at rush hour every Monday throughout the Winter and it took about 90 minutes. Many students who lived within 5 miles of the class failed to attend on the grounds of bad weather.

Adversity affects us all. No one is spared. It is not the adversity that matters, but how we cope with it.