As a boy one is often taught he has to grow up to be big and strong. He must grow smart to one day be wise. He must become a reputable member of society and be a good man to his woman and an inspiration to kids. That’s fine and dandy, I’ve accepted that as my mission. Unbeknownst to the young men who accept that mission, there is a side mission attached. That mission is to keep those around you, the ones you truly love, happy.

Happiness comes in so many forms though. Career success, academic achievements, unquestionable loyalty and dependability, and the list only grows. Most likely to keep the ones around you happy all you have to do is be honest with yourself and them. But even even with that there are the timed where that mission can’t be accomplished. Party A will be pleased and party B will frown. That’s life so a man must get used to that. Not everyone is happy all the time.

But, as a man grows older he eventually gets that person in their life that they want to smile no matter what. They want this person to always have a certain type of happy. This happiness is called Love. Once a man obtains that, he truly wants that eternally. So, when the one he loves is unhappy he crumbles, falters, feels unsure about what to do to bring that joy back temporarily. He’s locked in a stupor like no other until he ascertains a solution to the problem that caused the unhappiness. When that special loved one is hurting your world is numb null and void. As a man you’re supposed to be able to fix it. But not every problem can be fixed by you. Some problems have to be fixed by others, no matter how hard you try.

It makes that man question why, question the world. Why place these trials in his life if he can’t pass them? Why teach him its his job to bring this joy to his loved ones if he can’t always do it? Simply because he must try. Its not that he has to always succeed in bringing that pure elated smile, its more important that he tries to bring that smile. As the sun will always rise again their loved one will smile again.

I guess I just wondered why are we destined to face these emotional hardships. It does not seem fair. But life isn’t a fair mistress. She’s a harsh one filled with lessons we are meant to learn. I guess the point of this is to always, ALWAYS try to keep that joy even when it seems impossible.

-Poetic Ice