I really hate how overly optimistic people view the world only through their own little bubble, completely ignoring what others go through. I get it. Having hope is important. But the way they dismiss other people’s struggles as if they don’t matter is frustrating. They throw around phrases like "It’s God’s plan," "Character development," or "Everything happens for a reason," as if those words magically erase the pain and injustice others experience. Not everything in life is a lesson or a divine test. Sometimes, Karen, people just suffer no matter how hard they try to change their circumstances. And when you spew empty platitudes, you don’t sound wise. You just sound ignorant and lacking in empathy.

Optimism isn’t a bad thing, don’t get me wrong. In fact, it can be a source of strength, a way to push forward despite hardships. But there is a fine line between being optimistic and being blind to reality. Some people are so absorbed in their own experiences that they fail to acknowledge the struggles of others.

The truth is life is not fair. Sometimes things get better, but sometimes they don’t. No matter how hard some people try to escape the situations they never chose or created, they remain trapped. Effort and determination do not always guarantee success. I have seen people give everything they have—sweat, time, sanity—just to break free from a miserable existence only to be met with more obstacles. Meanwhile, others are fortunate enough to start life with advantages, never knowing what it’s like to struggle just to survive. They claim success is purely the result of hard work, failing to acknowledge that some people are simply dealt a better hand at birth.

Life is a lottery. Some are born with winning tickets while others never even get a chance to play.

Yes, Karen, believe it or not, that is the truth. And lucky for you, you got a head start. Life has been so good to you that you can’t imagine it working any other way. You never had to worry about being born into poverty, battling chronic illness, or facing systemic barriers that kept you down before you even had a chance to rise.

You were born in the right place, at the right time, with the right circumstances. Opportunity wasn’t something you had to chase. It was handed to you. You never had to wonder if you would have access to clean water, quality healthcare, or a decent education. You never had to claw your way out of a hole someone else dug for you. Must be nice, huh? To go through life believing success is just the result of hard work, never stopping to consider how much of it was decided before you even took your first breath. To look at someone struggling and assume they just didn’t try hard enough.

Privilege isn’t just about money. Some people are born into wealth and connections, while others win the genetic lottery—blessed with beauty, health, or sheer dumb luck. The right face can open doors. A body that never fails you can make all the difference. A chance encounter can change everything.

But what about those who weren’t as lucky?

Some people are born in the wrong place, at the wrong time, into circumstances that suffocate them before they can even begin to dream. Their country is in ruins, their neighborhood is a dead end, their family is struggling just to survive. They weren’t given beauty that opens doors, or genetics that keep them healthy, or money that cushions every fall. For them, life isn’t a game of strategy. It is a fight for survival. A brutal, exhausting climb with no guarantees. Every step forward is met with resistance, every opportunity comes with a cost. And even if they do everything right—work hard, make sacrifices, play their cards the best they can—success might still slip through their fingers. Because sometimes life doesn’t just make it hard. It makes it cruel. As if the universe itself had decided they must suffer, as if they were paying for some unforgivable sin from a past life. No matter how much they fight, no matter how much they endure, it is never enough.

Life always demands a price. Some never get what they desire no matter how hard they fight. Others do but at a cost so great they’re left wondering if it was ever worth it. And in the end, even those who claw their way to the top may find that life has one final cruelty left to offer—taking it all away. That is the reality many refuse to acknowledge. They dismiss struggles they have never experienced and offer simple solutions to problems they have never had to face. It is easy to preach about hard work and optimism when life has never tested you. And in the end, none of it guarantees meaning. Some fight their whole lives and never win. Others are handed everything and still feel empty. Some suffer without reason. Others thrive without effort.

Because life was never fair. It never has been. It never will be.

No matter how much we fight, how much we endure, or how much we try to tip the scales in our favor, we all end up in the same place. Six feet under.