The Helpful Headwinds of Adversity

Swen Nater

What is Adversity?
“Adversity” is the noun derived from the verb, “adverse.” Adverse is defined with words such as: Opposed, Contrary, Calamity, Hardship, and Misfortune. The word implies, before diversity comes, the one who encounters it, knows exactly where he or she is headed and the going is rather uneventful, smooth, and on schedule. Adversity is something that comes along to make thing difficult and, sometimes, seemingly impossible.

Adversity comes in more than one form. An example of a “temporary adversity” is perhaps the loss of a job. Another is an injury that will eventually heal. An example of a “permanent adversity” is becoming paralyzed. Another example is losing a child. 

Even temporary adversities can be major or minor. Coach Wooden’s father lost his farm due to the depression. That was severe because he was challenged to put food on the table. My temporary adversity at UCLA was minor in comparison.

My Adversity
Playing behind Bill Walton left me with less than three minutes of playing time a game. I would have reveled in the intensity and pressure of a real game, where I would have been forced to be at my best. However, game after game, I sat there, knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, I could have made a significant contribution. Although I understood the reasoning, it was very frustrating.

No one would have blamed me had I simply “put in the hours” until graduation, waiting for my chance when I turned pro. But, Coach Wooden told me, 

“Things turn out best for those that make the best of the way things turn out.”

The three key words in that sentence are, “make the best.” What that meant to me was, I was not just waiting for the storm to end; I was to use the storm to get stronger and better. Coach explained it was like lifting weights; pushing against the resistance makes one stronger. A second thing Coach told me made “make the best” even more clear.

“Adversity is about the only time you can become acquainted with yourself. It’s tough to know who you really are during the good times when your admirers are providing that information for you.”

I Listened
I learned a lot about myself while working my tail off and waiting for my chance to come, but it wasn’t easy. Many times, it seemed I was a ship trying to get to my destination against a direct headwind. As it turns out, the headwinds were extremely helpful. I think Ella Wheeler Wilcox would agree.  

The Winds of Fate
Ella Wheeler Wilcox

One ship drives east and another drives west
With the selfsame winds that blow.
‘Tis the set of the sails
And not the gales
That tell us where to go.

Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate
As we voyage along through life.
‘Tis the set of the soul
That decides the goal,
And not the calm or the strife.