What is strength?

Hello dear reader.

The following quote comes from an article in The Mighty written by Mary Lynn Johnson. It really spoke to me when I read it.

“Strength isn’t the opposite of weakness. It’s in a category of its own. Strength is choosing to keep pushing and reaching when everything is in the way of where you want to go. Strength is born out of the imperfect places in our lives that stretch us farther than we ever thought possible. Strength means not giving up, and that means you keep showing up.”

You can read the entire article here.

This quote challenges one of the biggest misconceptions about what it means to be strong…it “isn’t the opposite of weakness.” People tend to see a straight line with weakness on one end and strength on the other, but that’s not the way it goes. Strength and weakness can, and often do, occur at the same time. There are a lot of ways they both come into play. They can be physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and more. I can be strong mentally and weak physically. I can be strong physically (it happens occasionally 😉) and weak spiritually. There are any number of ways they can happen together.

Strength and weakness are also relative. These days I feel strong physically when I can sweep my floors. Before I got so sick, sweeping the floor was nothing, just one in a miriad of chores I did daily.

Some days it takes all the strength I can muster to take a shower. Other days, that’s nothing.

Strength means “not giving up, and that means you keep showing up.” I try every day to get up, get dressed, and be part of the day. That’s not always possible. But I try again and again and again. I celebrate the days I can do it, and I accept the days I can’t. I don’t give up. I show up.

Strength means different things at different times and different things to different people.

There’s a comment box at the end of this post for comments, suggestions, and/or questions. What does strength mean to you? I’d love to know what you think.

Until next time…

The Strength of a Woman

Hello dear reader.

https://wp.me/p97n9P-7B

I found this poem on Meraki Forever and had to share it with you. It blew me away! I had planned to write about the strength of women, so this was perfect. While you’re there, check out some of his other poems. He’s very talented.

The thing that got me thinking about it was that Tim and I went to the shooting range today so I could get used to the gun he bought me. It’s been 30+ years since I shot a gun, and it was a little 22. This one’s a 45. I did better than I expected to.

Those are all mine.

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Thank goodness Tim had some very good ear protection for me to wear. That gun is loud!

I started to think about how far I’ve come. I spent a lot of my life feeling weak and helpless. I let people walk all over me. My self-worth was completely tied up with what other people thought.

My body is weak because of the illnesses I deal with, but I’m stronger on the inside than I’ve ever been. I know who I am. Of course it’s nice when I can make others happy, but I don’t need that to feel good about myself.

I know this is a different direction than my posts usually go, but it’s where my head is today. And you, dear reader, get to go with me.

I honestly don’t know how much of the changes are about age, or experience, or just about growth. It’s probably all of the above. I didn’t learn who Lynnette was until I was in my 40’s. I knew who I was as a mother, a wife, a daughter, but not who I was as an individual. When I took the time to finally do that I was surprised to learn that I was a lot stronger than I thought. My confidence climbed. My only regret is that I didn’t take the time to learn that earlier. I know I’d have been a better example to my children if I had.

I feel like I’m starting to ramble here, so I’m going to stop with a question… Have you taken the time to get to know yourself? What did you discover?

Until next time…

Strength

Hello dear reader

The following link is to a post I wrote exactly two years ago. I don’t normally “recycle” old posts, but this one is worth putting out there again. It came straight from my heart when I wrote it originally, and I believe it even more today.

I hope it makes you think.

Until next time…

http://lynnetteok.com/2016/03/17/strength/