Inequitable Equality

There are dozens, if not hundreds of cases of people with advantages over others that one can experience throughout their lifetime, even daily. It is easy to see someone blessed with uncommonly good looks, charisma, natural athletic talent, intelligence, or wealth and think them lucky. But these things often come with troubles of their own.

For example, children in wealthy families often experience absent parents, those with good looks can be shallow, charisma doesn't necessarily make true friends, athletes work themselves to the bone and endure strict regimens, and intelligence has downsides of its own.

Someone born with natural athletic talent might think that an athlete is all they are or can ever be. That life also involves a very strict diet and exercise regimen that is often carried on from adolescence late into adulthood. Finally, the life of an athlete or even an aspiring athlete often leads to injury.

The absence of these things comes with its advantages and disadvantages. For example, being born into poverty is a famous origin story for many noteworthy individuals, as it tends to make one work that much harder to succeed. A life of hardship can make one a formidable force.

My point is that sometimes disadvantages can lead to advantages, and advantages can be disadvantages. This world is one of inequitable equality, and although most things seem unfair the cosmic scales are often balanced one way or another. Thus, all is fair.