I’ve found myself overwhelmed with life, school work, inner-conflicts, relationships and figuring out how to be a senior in college over the last few months. It’s a really significant, defining time in my life. I didn’t want to write anything for it to become misconstrued. I love the people in my life way too much for that to happen. It takes struggles in our lives to realize how strong and capable we truly are! I believe that with every ounce of my being. I remember several times over the last few months where I have told friends (or myself) through my sobbing tears, “I’m so weak. I’m broken and hurt, and so, I’m weak.” In reality, I believe realizing and accepting those emotions make me anything except weak. They make me human.
Last weekend someone said, “You know, Leigh, you are so strong but you don’t have to be strong all the time.” My reply was this, “I do have to be strong. I’ve watched my mother, my grandmothers, my friends be strong. It’s a part of who I am. It’s what makes me… me!” Looking at the strength of all the people in my life forces me to view life more clearly. They are much wiser than me, because they realize life consists of both strengths and weaknesses. We are taught in society to be strong, apart from of our circumstances. And while I don’t have to be strong all the time, I believe strength is picking ourselves off the ground when we find ourselves struggling. It’s also about having people in your life prepared to pick us up, too.
Last night, I spent time with my sorority sisters in my pledge class. One of the first questions they asked was “How are things? What’s going on? You okay?” After explaining a portion of my life, they nodded their heads and smiled slightly. They understood. They, too, face struggles between strength and weakness. Several have been in similar positions. Regardless, they have all struggled, too. They’re searching for answers concerning school, life, careers and relationships. We are all facing strengths and weaknesses. And as the conversation shifted to all the things 21 year old girl’s talk about when they get together— I realized something.
It’s okay to be self-aware, not selfish. I also believe it’s important to be utterly aware of humanity! When we find our strength, it’s usually because we are surrounded by community. We pick each other up. Like Mary and Elizabeth. And really, it doesn’t always matter who we have by our sides as long as they’re there, completely. And we extend the same hand to them. I’m struggling. But I’m also doing well right now. I am laughing and enjoying where I am, where ever that happens to be! On my way to work this afternoon, I thought about love. You know, the idea I wrote about in my last post. The idea that I’m not struggling with loving, but— the way I love, the type of love and how exactly to love. I know, now. Whatever happens, I have plenty of love in my heart. It’s like my struggles with strength and weakness. I have no answers to the questions of how I am handling the strengths/weaknesses and loving either. But I know how I am going to love and live my strength, just by doing it.
“If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you just might miss it.” –Farris Bueller
Last weekend someone said, “You know, Leigh, you are so strong but you don’t have to be strong all the time.” My reply was this, “I do have to be strong. I’ve watched my mother, my grandmothers, my friends be strong. It’s a part of who I am. It’s what makes me… me!” Looking at the strength of all the people in my life forces me to view life more clearly. They are much wiser than me, because they realize life consists of both strengths and weaknesses. We are taught in society to be strong, apart from of our circumstances. And while I don’t have to be strong all the time, I believe strength is picking ourselves off the ground when we find ourselves struggling. It’s also about having people in your life prepared to pick us up, too.
Last night, I spent time with my sorority sisters in my pledge class. One of the first questions they asked was “How are things? What’s going on? You okay?” After explaining a portion of my life, they nodded their heads and smiled slightly. They understood. They, too, face struggles between strength and weakness. Several have been in similar positions. Regardless, they have all struggled, too. They’re searching for answers concerning school, life, careers and relationships. We are all facing strengths and weaknesses. And as the conversation shifted to all the things 21 year old girl’s talk about when they get together— I realized something.
It’s okay to be self-aware, not selfish. I also believe it’s important to be utterly aware of humanity! When we find our strength, it’s usually because we are surrounded by community. We pick each other up. Like Mary and Elizabeth. And really, it doesn’t always matter who we have by our sides as long as they’re there, completely. And we extend the same hand to them. I’m struggling. But I’m also doing well right now. I am laughing and enjoying where I am, where ever that happens to be! On my way to work this afternoon, I thought about love. You know, the idea I wrote about in my last post. The idea that I’m not struggling with loving, but— the way I love, the type of love and how exactly to love. I know, now. Whatever happens, I have plenty of love in my heart. It’s like my struggles with strength and weakness. I have no answers to the questions of how I am handling the strengths/weaknesses and loving either. But I know how I am going to love and live my strength, just by doing it.
“If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you just might miss it.” –Farris Bueller
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