Today I turned on the television looking for something inspirational, and Joel Osteen’s program was on. (My friend, Rajiv Ramdeo, would label that as synchronicity.) I used to watch his show every week but regrettably have not for over a year. I really enjoy his sermons, and I recommend it to anyone of any religious faith since his sermons are less like traditional Bible-based sermons and more like life lessons that anyone can take away from.

Today’s program reminded me of something I’ve been thinking about recently. I have come to realize that life is such an ongoing battle of influences. We are constantly being influenced by others, particularly our peers. We may like to think of ourselves as self-reliant, but the truth is the actions and attitudes of our peers directly affect us on a day to day basis. We begin to share, we begin to open ourselves to their values and their beliefs. Once you understand that, then it becomes quite clear: Life is an uphill battle.

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