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Unanswerable Questions: Do I Deserve This?

Lateefah Messam-Sparks
3 min readJan 19, 2024

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Life has a peculiar way of throwing unexpected challenges our way, leaving us questioning whether we truly deserve the hardships we face. Recently, I had a heart-to-heart conversation with a friend who was grappling with a series of unfortunate events, and the question that lingered in the air was, “Do I deserve this?”

As a friend, my immediate response was a resounding “no.” It’s only natural to empathize with those we care about and assert that they don’t deserve to endure pain or struggle. However, life’s complexities often challenge our understanding of fairness, and we find ourselves contemplating the concept of just desserts.

The truth is, life doesn’t always adhere to our sense of justice. The notion that everyone gets what they deserve is a comforting thought, but reality can be far more unpredictable. Bad things happen to good people, and sometimes it feels as though the universe is indifferent to our sense of right and wrong.

In my attempt to comfort my friend, I shared the belief that life’s inherent unfairness doesn’t diminish our worth or define our destinies. Instead, it invites us to reevaluate our perspective on happiness and fulfillment. Life’s journey is fraught with uncertainties, and finding solace in the midst of chaos requires embracing the small moments that bring joy.

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Lateefah Messam-Sparks
Lateefah Messam-Sparks

Written by Lateefah Messam-Sparks

Expat building a Chess and English business in Madrid and wanting to share my life, stories and other musings with you along the way. @safsparks

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