“You never know how strong you are until strong is the only choice you have.”
This phrase has hung on my wall for over three years. When I see it, I am reminded of several things.
We make choices.
Life isn’t always a bowl of cherries. Sometimes it really sucks. Sometimes it’s nothing but a big ol’ bowl of …. yucky, brown stuff.
Bad things happen to good people and we can’t prevent that, but we make a choice how we will deal with it. We can lay down and die or get up and fight. I make a choice to keep going because for me, it’s the only choice.
There is no way out except to get up and fight, and so I do. Today I may need to fight just to survive, or just to get out of bed, but as long as I continue the fight there is the chance for a better tomorrow.
Perspective helps.
Although some days it may feel like it, I’m not the first person to face difficulties, and truth be told, my crisis pales in comparison to many. There are others in this world who certainly have it much worse. There are families in war torn countries, millions across the globe existing on one meal a day of rice and beans, people sick and dying with cancer.
I have a few struggles. Big deal. I am healthy and strong enough to get through this, but it’s not going to happen if I mope around feeling sorry for myself, so I get up, and I go and I do. I do whatever I can handle that day. Then I expect, hope, and pray tomorrow will be a better day.
It’s temporary.
Difficult times don’t last forever. Sadness doesn’t last forever. Even grief doesn’t last forever, at least not at the same intensity as time passes. I know I will find a solution to what troubles me. Or I will find a distraction to get me through. Or, if all else fails, I’ll crawl beneath the covers and wait for tomorrow.
Do you have a favorite quote which keeps you strong? Leave me a comment.