“Everything sucks, some of the time.”
– Mark Manson
I’m currently reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s book, Big Magic, and I find myself nodding along with her words and the words of those she quotes. She uses this quote above and it really stuck with me.
It may initially be seen as a pessimistic view of the world, but its just reality. Nothing is perfect and Mark Manson has put that notion into a completely less cliche version.
I feel this way A LOT while traveling and working in different places around the world. It’s easy for people back at home to be thinking, “How could things be bad for you? You’re living the life.” And, while in many cases thats the way it appears to the people on the outside looking in, its just not always true.
I have been in many situations where things were amazing most of the time, but sucky some of it. When I lived in Florence, I LOVED the company that I worked for, but some of the things we had to do made no sense to me or I felt as if they did nothing for me in terms of achieving my ultimate goal (which was to sell trips and travel), but I still had to do them. I had to live through the sucky parts to get to the good ones.
Living in Thailand, I have felt this way too many times to count. I was initially so frustrated with my teaching job. I hated it. I felt that I had made a huge mistake in signing up to teach for five months. But, when it came down to it, it was something I knew I could endure for a few months. Sure, some days suck, but for the most part, I get to spend my day playing with 28 adorably tiny four-year-olds.
“Everything sucks, some of the time,” when you’re stuck on a bus for 12-18 hours to get to your next destination. But in the end, you just have to remind yourself that the destination is worth it. Your whole experience is worth it. Because, when you look back at all of the things that suck some of the time, you won’t find yourself dwelling on them. Instead, you’ll be appreciating the really amazing moments.
