I once heard that, "Old age is not for sissies." The fact is, life itself is not for sissies.

When you think about the trials of old age, it is easy to agree that old age is not for sissies. But you know, every age has its trials. When we're young, we face difficult decisions about education, career and marriage. We struggle to come to terms with our emotions, hormones, and identity issues.

Later, we agonize over raising our children, gaining financial security, and retirement. Life, if we are living it fully, never ceases to present us with challenges and problems to solve. The secret to successful living is not in finding an easy, carefree existence, but in being adequate for the trials that life brings.

Stanley Jones once said that we don't break down from overwork, but from "under being."  I agree. Most of us are not given too much to cope with. It's just that sometimes we feel as if our inner resources are low. 

A camping supply company slogan puts it this way: "See us for supplies so you can rough it smoothly." To rough it smoothly through life, you need to be well equipped, too. You need good values, a good support system of people who care about you, a purpose you believe in strongly, an optimistic spirit, respect for others, and respect for yourself, as well.

Just like a well-supplied camper, if you have these things, it won't matter much if the weather turns bad where you set up camp. You will come through just fine.