Pipes/Diamonds

I heard someone say today that because the natural life expectancy of humans is much lower than the actual life span, we weren't mean to end up staying with the same person for 30, 40 years.

And it got me thinking:
What if the same thing ran true for alot of the societal "problems" typically attributed to youth? What if, because of the natural life expectancy of humans, kids were meant to become sexual at an earlier age?

What if, because of the natural life expectancy of humans, kids (especially boys) were mean to learn to fend for themselves at an earlier age? What if this same drive, with no natural outlet, is instead channels into less productive endeavors? What if much of the violence and vandalism and malignance in our society is just an outlet for this aggressive urge?

And THAT got me thinking:
If that urge is meant to handle struggle, what happens to people who were raised amongst strife and chaos?

And I immediately thought of three examples.

1) I had just watched Rize, where this amazing, inspirational, positive movement rose (no pun intended) out of energy and frustration felt through having to deal with random deaths, drugs, and poverty channeled by children raised in South Central L.A.

2) K'naan, whose song - fittingly - "Waving Flag" had been playing. This guy came from a place with no government, no law. Everyone forced to fend for themselves. The only "community" is forced out of necessity. And now he provides a light of inspiration for those behind him.

3) And finally, Robert Nesta Marley. My boy. Bobby was raised in Trench Town, Jamaica, surrounded by poverty and violence. I need not mention his influence.

You know what I see here? I see pressure producing diamonds. I see struggle producing genius.

What IF... Our minds were naturally geared to deal with struggle and danger, and that is what awakens the genius within us? What IF... Without that struggle, our minds never REALLY develop to their full capacity?

And my final thought of the night:
What can be labeled as struggle? How far down Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs do we have to travel to be jarring enough to awaken the sleeping legend within us?

Woo... I'm going to bed.