Smooth sailing is ideal, right? Maybe, but maybe not. You’ll never know just what you can handle if you are never tested. Don’t expect things to just come your way. Sometimes you have to push yourself in order to grow as a person. What bad stuff has happened to you? Learn from it. And don’t be blind to those around you. If a friend has gone through something hard, take lessons from that, too. Save yourself the trouble of having to experience it as well. So when hard times do come, hope that others will help, but rely on yourself to make it through.