Significant Outcomes in the Face of Adversity

# It is a Matter of Perspective

Posted by Dave Cooke on Jul 11, 2025 in Celebration, Learning, Listening, Uncategorized | 0 comments

“Life is either a hell of a ride or a ride to hell. I’m done with the ride to hell.” ~ Rob McGovern

It is a matter of perspective. Stuff either happens to you or things just happen. You decide. Life, by its nature, is filled with adventure. Adventures are only really exciting after you have survived them and have an opportunity to reflect on your accomplishment in getting through them. It is then you can look back with a wry smile and say, I certainly survived a close one. That is one hell of a ride.

Or, you can look at the series of challenges that you face as some sort of gauntlet you are forced to get through to find joy and peace at the other side. Everytime you think you are clear of life’s pitfalls another steps up and hits you in the face. People in this scenario can be heard saying, “I feel like I have been to hell and back.” Or, in the case of this quote, I have been on the ride to hell.

Your journey is your journey. It is not something that is happening to you as some form of a curse, or a test of will, or a measure of your ability to overcome; no, your journey is what it is so that you can learn from the experiences in your life as you continually evolve and grow. It is not a survival test. It is an adventurous nature hike designed to introduce you to ideas, opportunities, and solutions you never would have thought possible had you not taken the path you are on.

Your journey is not a ride to or from hell, it is a hell of a ride. It is the most intense roller coaster you could have ever imagined. It keeps your heart pumping, your emotions on high alert, and your brain waves in high gear. Every single emotion is touched, exposed, and stimulated. When the adventure is over, you can look back at the experience at all you have learned and accomplished. And, with that knowledge and awareness, you can appreciate your lessons and share the wisdom of them with others. What a gift.

Your situation is a matter of perspective. You can see the agony, the frustration, the annoyance, and the pain of your journey as a ride to hell. Or, you can enjoy one hell of a ride and embrace the emotions, the experiences, and the incredible lessons as one incredible journey. My journey has not been easy, it has not been fun, and it has not always been enjoyable — but its mine. And, I am all the better for it and for all I have learned in it. Enjoy the ride!

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