During our lives we are all going to experience tough situations. How we deal with those situations determines who we are and how we act as a human being. Let’s be honest there is no easy path in life. Some of us get stuck into certain life situations that will try to bring us down. One piece of advice, never give up. Fight back against the darkness of whatever is bringing you down. Life isn’t about how hard you can hit, but rather how hard you can get hit and continue fighting.

There is an old story that I heard about the battle within us. Each of us inside have two wolves that are battling for control. One wolf is the light and greatness, the other is the darkness and can bring us down in life. This battle goes on for our entire lives if we allow it, and you may ask which one is going to win? Well the winner is the one wolf you feed more. This analogy is a great example of how to balance your problems out, and not let life kick you down!

Darkness is always given a negative connotation in the world. Darkness is seen as bad, doubtful, sad, all these feelings and more. What we overlook is how darkness is good for us. Darkness is where we can be the best that we can. We can stand up to the things in life that bring us down. We can rise above the occasion and above all the obstacles that continue to get in our way. We can stand up and be who we were meant to be. When life is fighting you and beating you down, you may kneel and look at the ground as sweat drips off your head. But you need to get back up, look life right in the eyes and say, "not today." Today is not the day you will give up, today is not the day you will lay on the ground and let life walk all over you. From this darkness you gain your power, you gain the power to overcome life and become a new you, a better you.

I love obstacle races. They are a prime example of how I overcame life. When I was in my undergraduate school years I was big on partying, drinking, smoking, etc. At the end of my school years I found myself questioning how good I really was, how much of an impact I was going to make, and more negative thoughts came into my head because all I knew was that lifestyle. Life was knocking at my door and telling me that I was not good enough, and for a time I listened to it. I let life walk over me and make me something that I wasn’t. Then one day I decided, if I was going to accomplish anything I would have to persevere and overcome this obstacle. That is the day I went to the gym and entered into a race. Knowing that I might not be able to complete the race, I tested myself.

As I stood at the gym looking ominously at the treadmill I already felt defeated. But did I give up? I don’t think the thought even entered my mind. I continued on and trained even though I would cough, get out of breath easily, and sweat like I just jumped in the pool. The day came, and I ran that race, the mantra they set for us was: Dig Deep. The term kept ringing in my head as I cramped up, got tired, and when I felt like giving up and letting life win. Needless to say, the finish line never felt so good. To stand there as I beat the odds I setup for myself and everything life was throwing at me. I stood strong, I stood proud.

Everyone has those defining moments in life, it makes us who we are. What we decide to do in those moments makes us a strong person. Making the decisions that are necessary in life is not always easy, and the darkness may try to take over your life. So to my readers, all I can say is don’t let life knock you down, be the person to stand up and knock life back. Be all that you can be.