Why Me?!

"Why me?!"....

This question is often asked aloud or silently whenever we encounter hardships, suffering, and any type of inconvenience that life throws our way. It's easy to let thoughts take over that lead us to believe that somehow, we are being "targeted" and that the tough times are just our "lot in life". From a Heathen perspective, I would like to to submit the following for consideration...

The Norns weave the threads of Wyrd, and each strand binds us to the world’s greater pattern. To ask "why me?" when hardship strikes is to gaze upon a single knot and forget the tapestry it strengthens.

In Heathen thought, we live within *Wyrd*, the vast, interconnected web of cause and consequence. What befalls you is not punishment or cosmic whim but the natural unfolding of what has been—your deeds, the deeds of your ancestors, and the ripples of countless others. The past is carved in stone, yet the present lies beneath your feet like soil ready for planting. You stand not as a victim of fate, but as an agent of *Orlæg*, your personal portion of the weave.

Suffering, then, is not a question of "why me?" but rather "what now?" Life tests the spirit, tempers the will, and demands courage. Our ancestors knew that courage, loyalty, and trust were important precisely because hardship is certain. The gods themselves know suffering—Odin hung upon Yggdrasil, Tyr lost his hand, Thor faces endless giants. Yet none turned from their tasks or questioned the burden. They acted, accepted, and grew.

When pain strikes, remember: you are not a solitary leaf adrift. You are rooted in kin, community, and the deeds that outlive you. The question is not why the storm came, but how you will weather it. Will you meet adversity with honor, or yield to despair? The choice, though shaped by the past, remains yours.

So, rather than "why me?" ask, "what can I learn?" "What can I give?" "How can I shape my Wyrd so that those who come after find strength in my example?" In doing so, you honor the ancestors, yourself, and the endless weave of existence.