Lately, people have been telling me constantly to "Be Strong." It has been so constant, in fact, I started to resent the statement. Truthfully, I'd been repeating it to myself for the past few months, so as others joined the fray it just got to be too much. I thought "Be Strong" is B.S. What is strength? What does it mean to "be strong"? I really don't know. What I do know is that strength is relative. I am strong enough physically to fight with the best of them--believe that! I am strong enough to carry my mother when she is weak--know that! Physically, there is no doubt but that I am strong. I can feel my physical strength and measure it. Emotional strength, well, that is a different story altogether. I can't feel this strength and, as a result, I am struggling to define and categorize it, and to really know what people are asking of me. I keep questioning myself trying to grasp the concept: Is just putting one foot in front of the other strength? Is it moving when your body is so tired and you seem to be functioning on autopilot? Is strength pretending to understand the incomprehensible? Is it smiling when all you want to do is go curl up in ball and retreat, scream, cry and curse? Is sitting watching being strong? Is trying to maintain a routine being strong? Is it silence? Somedays these simple things take all the strength I have. I'm just not sure any of these things are being strong. I am not sure I am adhering to the advisement of my friends, family or myself because strength is so abstract for me in this life's moment. So for right now, be strong is B.S. because I can't even conceive it!
5 Comments
5/3/2016 12:44:11 pm
I am of the opinion that somedays just getting out of bed is being strong and enough. Other days, adding a shower into your day is almost over doing it. Putting one foot in front of the other is what we do - sometimes the steps are a lot smaller than others though. Good Luck
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5/3/2016 05:48:38 pm
Be strong is relative. Your strength may not be my strength. You strength today may not be your strength tomorrow. My thoughts and prayers are with you!
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Mary
5/3/2016 05:56:26 pm
Be strong--such a cliché. It is what people say as encouragement when they really don't have any words but feel they have to say something. It isn't helpful, especially when you feel like you are drowning and can barely get out of bed, but it isn't said with malice. Just be the best you that you can be right now. If that means you got up out of bed and showered, so be it. If that means a bit more, great. Love yourself for these little accomplishments, because sometimes this life is just so hellish...Best.
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You raise such a good point. We have many phrases we use when words elude us, "I'll pray for you" comes to mind first and foremost but you are right, "be strong" is used the same way. They are like hugs. They don't change anything, don't take away pain, or make things better, but they give us something to say when a hug isn't possible or isn't enough. Thank you for making me think about what I say next time to the person in my life who needs that hug.
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Briana
5/4/2016 05:36:44 pm
I never say be strong!! And I don't like it when people say it. No one is perfect !!! I always say just pray pray!! The enemy is trying to take your faith and also test your faith at the same time. Always remember all you have to do is call his name and he will answer !! So you don't have to be strong and God will get you through this!!just pray!!
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