The Hardship Generator

I call myself "The Hardship Generator". Good title, eh?

It's not your typical hero's name, I'll grant you but then what I do is not your typical hero work. I'm working for the good of humanity but mine's more the long game, not the "swoop in and save them" like your Superman.

You see, I've noticed that we're struggling as a race, struggling to cope with the everyday.

A case in point? This morning, I was at the supermarket. Young woman went to the fridge and a punnet of blueberries fell out. Well, you know what those little buggers are like! Always making a bid for freedom every chance they get. No big deal, you'd think? Huh! She bursts into tears and just walks away. Blueberries everywhere! What's that all about? Now, she may have had a bad day, I'm not saying, but tears? Na, not needed.

And I'm seeing this reaction more and more. Weakness. Where's the steel, people? The grit? The staunching of emotions? I mean, if blueberries prompt tears, what're you going to be like when you lose a limb? I'm all for being true to yourself but this is ridiculous!

I think people need to be trained in hardship. I think most of us have it too easy.

I mean, what is there to strive for anymore? When was the last time you were so hungry, you could have eaten twigs? Shivered with extreme cold? Parched with dire thirst? Or not even that? How about waiting for something? Eh? A parcel? Or an answer? Everything's instant nowadays!

So, I've taken it on myself to help out by generating little hardships for people. To create resilience.

One of my projects is young Dave at work. Started off slowly by hiding his mug; then, progressed to stealing his keys. Today, I've let down the air in one of his tyres. Teaching him life lessons. How to deal. So, when something bad happens, like a car crash or cancer, he'll be capable of navigating it.

Trouble is I think the CCTV might have filmed me doing it. But I'm not worried. Once I explain about "The Hardship Generator", I don't reckon they'd sack me.

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