Through my toughest times in life I tried to maintain hope & courage to forge ahead. Always trying to be positive thru my faith that there would be a light at the end of the dark tunnel. I think for me perseverance sums it up!
Like others here, I too have had a lot of hard times in my life. I have learned to be resilient & how important it is to keep putting one foot in front of the other regardless of my sadness.
I get to choose whether the “hard times” take me down or I rise above, learn & grow, in spite of them.
The hard times have made me realize how strong & flexible I am.
I have learned compassion for myself as well as others.
My attitude is everything.
Most of my lessons
have come to me through adversity . . .
if I don’t learn the first time
I am challenged again and again
until the Light comes on
and I move on to the next one.
At one of my first jobs in a nursing home
that had taken up residence in an old captain’s house,
my supervisor told me after two weeks,
that I wasn’t seeming to learn the job,
and that perhaps I should resign.
I replied,
that perhaps I am a slow learner,
but when I learn
I learn it well.
Within three months
I was in charge of the night shift.
I’ve had a bit of a breather lately,
which frightens me,
as I know I’m not done yet
and there is still much character building that needs to be done . . .
I’m afraid that I’m out of practice handling crises and tragedies,
and have lost some of my hard earned abilities,
endurance perhaps being at the top of the list,
the ability to trudge forward
through any nightmare,
one foot in front of the other.
I lived that way for so long
and have no taste or desire
to live that way again.
I see my life now
as a precious gift
that is not meant to be squandered. ♥
You are very wise, Sparrow.
I don’t think that you get out of practice at handling crises and tragedies,
as a result of not having been through any in a while.
I think the wisdom you gained has deepened rather than being lost.
☀️🌷☀️
Some of the hardest times of my life were going through my Father’s passing. Through this season of my life, I was destroyed and rebuilt in many ways. I was given the opportunity to reflect on life in general and what held value to me and what legacy meant and made me realize that I am in full ownership of my legacy and the imprint on the world I leave behind. I think the hardest moments of life gave me perspective and possibly solidified what was important and allowed me to truly focus on what matters – family, love and slowing down to enjoy the little moments even on ‘bad’ days. While the hardest days appeared I had no strength to keep moving forward, but I continued to show up day after day and that is when I realized the ‘grit’ I have to show up even if contributing minimally, it counts. It matters to be there and give your best, the best you can for that day.. I got compassion, perspective and self grace through my hardest moments.
To respond instead of react is one of the results, and to be grateful oftentimes, appreciating what is offered by nature and by all of you and all of our fellow people known and unknown. To let go of any expectations is work in progress. Peace be with you all. Thank you.
From the hardest times in my life, I have learned that I can get through them. I have also learned that things change and that I can make choices, that may open new possibilities in my life. Wishing peace and some joy to all today.
I like Charlie T’s point, that perhaps the strengths were there and the hard times tested them. I don’t know which came first. If I think all the way back to childhood I can view hard times as exercises. Repetition makes muscles stronger. The first times I faced various tests maybe I didn’t exhibit much strength, if any, but I learned and grew. I thought about what kind of person I wanted to be in those hard moments and I wanted to do better.
In my adult years I’ve learned that I will do what’s needed in the moment. I can stay calm and think through options. I will be there for the people I love. I may find a way around, over, under, or through, but whatever it is I can persevere. I can also recognize when it’s time to set something down and move on without it. My early stubbornness has evolved into perseverance, minus the tendency to ram my head into a wall repeatedly expecting it to fall down.
Hugely wise post, Barb. Thank you.
Overall what I take from your post is that there is no need to panic.
I can be wise.
(I think that is my biggest fear is that I will panic, completely shut down, and then be left alone.
My husband says I think of the worst possible outcome, and then decide that is what will happen.
smh-shaking my head. I think that is my unhelpful way of trying to be completely prepared.
But really it just makes me more anxious.)
But the above are just fears.
I can and do choose another way to handle difficult times.
I can be the cool head, look carefully at my options,
and make purposeful choices as I live through the hard times.
Thank you for your wise response, Barb.
I do know these things.
I just need to have the confidence that I will be able to use what I know.
“I can also recognize when it’s time to set something down and move on without it.” This is a valuable skill, Barb. I struggle with it still. Do you have any tricks, sensations, or rules of thumb that help facilitate that recognition?
Increased compassion and increased understanding that everything changes. This increases my desire to appreciate the people I have in my life while I have them.
During the time when Ngoc was in Vietnam, I was resilient. It starts and ends with adaptability. I’ve proven that I can adapt to various situations within my foundation.
It was, Mary. I saw “Integrity” listed here from Carla and Sunnypatti. That was my biggest challenge of all. America is all about productivity that we’ve become really good at pulling strings for personal gain. Being honest with ourselves and where we stand takes character.
I’ve become more resilient . At the same time I’m sad that I’ve had to be so resilient — it’s not something I would have chosen.
Empathy has always been a part of who I am, but the hardest times have deepened it. I feel even more attuned to the emotions of others now — more able to sense what’s unspoken, to sit with people in their pain, and to offer support from a place of lived understanding.
Sitting with people in their pain and offering support from a place of lived understanding is an incredibly valuable skill. I think this is one of the ways to be of deepest benefit to others.
The ability to feel whatever I am feeling, however paradoxical or difficult, and be able to love this too, and know that I am whole. The ability to sit calmly with deep contradictions.
I have learned resilience from tough times in life, and that it is ok to pivot.
Years ago an icebreaker in a corp. job, asked this: what song best describes you?
I did not know the name of the song, but I wrote: the one that sings…”I get knocked down but I get up again cause you’re never gonna keep me down.”
Folks laughed and said it was a drinking song- I didn’t know that- but I felt the chorus described me best.
I frequently go back to what I consider to be a capital-T ‘Truth’ written by Rumi: life is a balance of holding on and letting go. In tough times knowing what I can or should hold onto and can and should control versus knowing what I need to let go of — usually expectations or falsehoods of what I think I can or need to control seems to require a pensive discernment, a prayerful pause, a slowing down.
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Through my toughest times in life I tried to maintain hope & courage to forge ahead. Always trying to be positive thru my faith that there would be a light at the end of the dark tunnel. I think for me perseverance sums it up!
Like others here, I too have had a lot of hard times in my life. I have learned to be resilient & how important it is to keep putting one foot in front of the other regardless of my sadness.
I get to choose whether the “hard times” take me down or I rise above, learn & grow, in spite of them.
The hard times have made me realize how strong & flexible I am.
I have learned compassion for myself as well as others.
My attitude is everything.
Most of my lessons
have come to me through adversity . . .
if I don’t learn the first time
I am challenged again and again
until the Light comes on
and I move on to the next one.
At one of my first jobs in a nursing home
that had taken up residence in an old captain’s house,
my supervisor told me after two weeks,
that I wasn’t seeming to learn the job,
and that perhaps I should resign.
I replied,
that perhaps I am a slow learner,
but when I learn
I learn it well.
Within three months
I was in charge of the night shift.
I’ve had a bit of a breather lately,
which frightens me,
as I know I’m not done yet
and there is still much character building that needs to be done . . .
I’m afraid that I’m out of practice handling crises and tragedies,
and have lost some of my hard earned abilities,
endurance perhaps being at the top of the list,
the ability to trudge forward
through any nightmare,
one foot in front of the other.
I lived that way for so long
and have no taste or desire
to live that way again.
I see my life now
as a precious gift
that is not meant to be squandered. ♥
You are very wise, Sparrow.
I don’t think that you get out of practice at handling crises and tragedies,
as a result of not having been through any in a while.
I think the wisdom you gained has deepened rather than being lost.
☀️🌷☀️
Thank you,
dear Mary,
for your kindness . . . ♥
Some of the hardest times of my life were going through my Father’s passing. Through this season of my life, I was destroyed and rebuilt in many ways. I was given the opportunity to reflect on life in general and what held value to me and what legacy meant and made me realize that I am in full ownership of my legacy and the imprint on the world I leave behind. I think the hardest moments of life gave me perspective and possibly solidified what was important and allowed me to truly focus on what matters – family, love and slowing down to enjoy the little moments even on ‘bad’ days. While the hardest days appeared I had no strength to keep moving forward, but I continued to show up day after day and that is when I realized the ‘grit’ I have to show up even if contributing minimally, it counts. It matters to be there and give your best, the best you can for that day.. I got compassion, perspective and self grace through my hardest moments.
I agree with you, Britt, that having the grit to just continue showing up counts.
Continuing to show up definitely counts.
To respond instead of react is one of the results, and to be grateful oftentimes, appreciating what is offered by nature and by all of you and all of our fellow people known and unknown. To let go of any expectations is work in progress. Peace be with you all. Thank you.
Peace be with you, dear Ose, as well.
From the hardest times in my life, I have learned that I can get through them. I have also learned that things change and that I can make choices, that may open new possibilities in my life. Wishing peace and some joy to all today.
I like Charlie T’s point, that perhaps the strengths were there and the hard times tested them. I don’t know which came first. If I think all the way back to childhood I can view hard times as exercises. Repetition makes muscles stronger. The first times I faced various tests maybe I didn’t exhibit much strength, if any, but I learned and grew. I thought about what kind of person I wanted to be in those hard moments and I wanted to do better.
In my adult years I’ve learned that I will do what’s needed in the moment. I can stay calm and think through options. I will be there for the people I love. I may find a way around, over, under, or through, but whatever it is I can persevere. I can also recognize when it’s time to set something down and move on without it. My early stubbornness has evolved into perseverance, minus the tendency to ram my head into a wall repeatedly expecting it to fall down.
Hugely wise post, Barb. Thank you.
Overall what I take from your post is that there is no need to panic.
I can be wise.
(I think that is my biggest fear is that I will panic, completely shut down, and then be left alone.
My husband says I think of the worst possible outcome, and then decide that is what will happen.
smh-shaking my head. I think that is my unhelpful way of trying to be completely prepared.
But really it just makes me more anxious.)
But the above are just fears.
I can and do choose another way to handle difficult times.
I can be the cool head, look carefully at my options,
and make purposeful choices as I live through the hard times.
Thank you for your wise response, Barb.
I do know these things.
I just need to have the confidence that I will be able to use what I know.
No catastrophizing or as I have heard it said also, no future tripping. Practicing this has helped me immensely to stay present, Mary,
Thank you, Joseph.
I agree. No more future tripping.
“I can also recognize when it’s time to set something down and move on without it.” This is a valuable skill, Barb. I struggle with it still. Do you have any tricks, sensations, or rules of thumb that help facilitate that recognition?
Increased compassion and increased understanding that everything changes. This increases my desire to appreciate the people I have in my life while I have them.
During the time when Ngoc was in Vietnam, I was resilient. It starts and ends with adaptability. I’ve proven that I can adapt to various situations within my foundation.
That was a big challenge, Loc.
It was, Mary. I saw “Integrity” listed here from Carla and Sunnypatti. That was my biggest challenge of all. America is all about productivity that we’ve become really good at pulling strings for personal gain. Being honest with ourselves and where we stand takes character.
I’ve become more resilient . At the same time I’m sad that I’ve had to be so resilient — it’s not something I would have chosen.
Empathy has always been a part of who I am, but the hardest times have deepened it. I feel even more attuned to the emotions of others now — more able to sense what’s unspoken, to sit with people in their pain, and to offer support from a place of lived understanding.
❤️
To sit with someone who is in pain,
dear Antonia,
is one of the wisest things you can do for another person. ♥
Sitting with people in their pain and offering support from a place of lived understanding is an incredibly valuable skill. I think this is one of the ways to be of deepest benefit to others.
The ability to feel whatever I am feeling, however paradoxical or difficult, and be able to love this too, and know that I am whole. The ability to sit calmly with deep contradictions.
I have learned resilience from tough times in life, and that it is ok to pivot.
Years ago an icebreaker in a corp. job, asked this: what song best describes you?
I did not know the name of the song, but I wrote: the one that sings…”I get knocked down but I get up again cause you’re never gonna keep me down.”
Folks laughed and said it was a drinking song- I didn’t know that- but I felt the chorus described me best.
I’m grateful for the Spirit given gifts of Tenacity, Integrity , and Hutzpah.
“Pensive discernment”?
I frequently go back to what I consider to be a capital-T ‘Truth’ written by Rumi: life is a balance of holding on and letting go. In tough times knowing what I can or should hold onto and can and should control versus knowing what I need to let go of — usually expectations or falsehoods of what I think I can or need to control seems to require a pensive discernment, a prayerful pause, a slowing down.
Resilience, bravery, perseverance, and a stronger sense of integrity and love for myself.
Yep-I also learned resilience, and you mention love of self-I hadn’t thought of that, Tks!