I was left wondering about your question.... besides admiring how great your pictures are.... your question...I don't know if it's life. I think, from personal experience, everyone is in our life for a reason, to learn something, however small.
My father was psychologically abusive, he never laid a hand on me but he yelled at me terribly and he is a dark being... I think he was there for a reason. I learned things. But sometimes it's very difficult to know what to learn.
It seems we have to go through the doors that belong to us, all different for everyone, some harder than others, then raise awareness and then move on to another level. I sense that a lot has to do with helping a collective awakening without giving theoretical lessons, just living and being examples.
I hug you.
More or less in those words, that's life... that's how it is. Hug!