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A few days ago, I shared my morning thoughts about life’s challenges. It said: “Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But, we can choose our hard. Pick wisely.” I used that morning thought to reflect a little on life and some of the choices I’ve made. I reflected on my hard days and the easy ones and it made me think about how many times I have started over.

I know there are probably others out there that can relate to starting over…hard choices…tough consequences…and the day to day challenges that make life what it is. I figured this week I’d reflect a little with everyone on starting over and the hardness of life and the choices we make.

I can remember graduating high school…looking at the world with a can-do attitude, invincible and ready to make my mark. I remember the change in my routine and that slap of reality when I realized this adult stuff wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. I was starting out…and in many ways starting over. It was hard…but it was my hard.

As I settled into my new normal routines, marriage seemed the next logical step. And, marriage was hard. I was no longer responsible for just me. Every choice became harder knowing I had a responsibility greater than myself. Soon after that marriage I got to see that divorce was harder….and I had to start over.

I worked, as most of us do, and soon settled into call centers. It was never intended to be a career choice, but 25 plus years later, here I am. Guess what…call centers are hard. Everyday in a call center feels like starting over. Policy, processes, people all changed frequently. Managers and clients came and went..and stability was never a guarantee.

Kids, blended families, remarriage, finances, another divorce, personal demons and harsh realities…they all played a part in the times I’ve had to start over…and it was never easy no matter how many times I had to do it.

Each time I started over I thought this was my biggest struggle, the hardest challenge, the straw that was going to break my back. Yet, somehow, I survived each new beginning. I made the most of each situation…and, each new start held a different promise for a future.

Fact is…life will never be easy. It will always be hard….but, the meme reminded me that we choose our hard. And, more importantly, that meme challenges us to choose wisely.

Each day is a new day…and every tomorrow we get to start over. And, while we will all face hard times, decisions and situations we do get to choose our hard. So, I encourage each of you to choose wisely.

What do your choices look like? How will you use your new start to make your version of hard…a little easier?

~ Joe Jr.