Have you ever wondered, "Why me?"

One day something very unexpected happened—at 11:24 a.m., I was born.

My delivery into the world was described as instantaneous. I heard later that I was in distress and a forceps delivery was necessary. From my first breath, I demonstrated tenacity and came into the world kicking and screaming at just under four pounds. I was nine weeks premature.

While I was still in the hospital, it was discovered my liver was underdeveloped and not cleaning my blood properly. To correct the concern, I was given a blood exchange. That is just as it sounds. My original blood was removed and simultaneously replaced with new blood. Thankfully, the procedure was a success with no further complications. I would remain in the hospital for the next few weeks. My home would be an incubator. My time there was spent growing and doing what most babies do in utero. When I grew to five pounds I was able to go home to my family.

When people are faced with obstacles they often ask, “Why me?” I say, “Why not me?”

No one is exempt from challenges in life. No one. Obstacles are not something we experience because someone doesn’t like us or because we are being punished. The Universe did not run out of easy passes when handing out life paths. Obstacles are simply part of life. They exist for learning and growth. Obstacles provide an opportunity to experience things we otherwise wouldn’t. They help us appreciate the areas of life that are working as we would like.

If the forecast was always sunny and it never rained, would we appreciate the sunshine? If we didn’t have rain, we would not experience rainbows, or budding trees, or beautiful flowers. Our lakes and rivers would be dry and the fish would have no home. We would never know the fun of splashing in puddles or experiencing the wonder of thunder storms.

It has been my experience, time and time again, that obstacles are a wrapping for our greatest treasures. They hold the wisdom of our greatest teachings, and yes, even the wonder of our greatest joys. It simply depends how we choose to look at them.