Not clouds

Sometimes I wish I could be a cloud drifting along in the vastness of the sky, no cares in the world, no responsibilities, no need to be anywhere; just moving where the winds blew and changing shapes without the need to be anything other than what I was. But life isn't at all like being a cloud.

Have you ever wondered how much weight you can carry? I mean emotionally. I have, usually in those moments when the pressure builds and weight piles on. One more thing, one more situation, one more complexity, one more adversity. I've been there many times and clearly managed to find a way forward - I'm still here after all. But how much is too much? When does a person say enough I can take no more? I don't know the answer.

I've faced adversity in my life and I know will do so again as life has a way of biting hard at times. I've dealt with that adversity the best I can and whilst I've not always had good outcomes I've managed to make something happen and moved forward. I don't see any other option.

I was laying in the spring grasses contemplating things, finding a gap in my life, a moment to see and feel things more clearly, and I thought of a few people around me who have, through no fault of their own, had to face adversity and find ways to overcome, adapt and adjust. My first thought was of sorrow and empathy but that soon turned to pride in them and a feeling of hope. You see, each one has refused to sink into a heap, to collapse into a pile of despair, misery and hopelessness. No, each of them have failed...Failed to capitulate!

I love that about each and every one of them. As the people and each of their individual circumstances rolled through my mind I felt proud to know these people, honoured to have such resilient and strong influences around me as role models. They would not call themselves such, but they are. Sure, they're broken, we all are a little but they're also inspirational, uplifting and empowering - They can find courage so I can too.

I don't know how much is too much when it comes to human endurance. I don't know what the breaking point is; different for all I guess. I know that the body can be pushed to amazing lengths before it breaks and I know it's the mind that often breaks first in respect of physical endurance. With that in mind I believe the emotional breaking point is farther away than most believe, that our emotional strength is far greater than what we at first understand. Humans have great endurance, resilience and persistence...We just need to see it and have a reason compelling enough to do it.

Sometimes we drift like the clouds, take different forms and shapes, but we aren't clouds to float along in life we have to take action to move our lives in the directions we wish it to go and for it to take on the form and shape we wish it to resemble.