It is only through falling that we learn to
rise again. Only through our failures
are we shown the path to our successes.
When standing on an edge we can feel the earth below us, and yet we can
feel the weightlessness before us. Each time
we fall down in life is merely an opportunity to get back up and keep on going. We must stand through the trials and
tribulations in this life in order to appreciate the brevity in that very
life. To know what it is like to stand
on the edge, peering into the unknown is a gift like no other. When someone, or something, pushes you to
your edge you have a choice to stand firm in that space. You can turn your back on what’s beyond that
space, face what is pushing you there, and stand resolute in what you know and
believe. At the same time you can turn
your back on the abuse, on what’s pushing you, on life’s myriad circumstances
that put you there, and you can embrace what’s out there. You can stand on that edge and not look
back. You have the ability to face that
fear of the unknown. The weightless
wonder of new beginnings. To fall is not
final. To fail is not what defines
us. Getting back up is not optional, but
taking the leap into tomorrow with all the gusto you can muster, now that is something
wonderful in itself.
Sometimes we find ourselves beat down by the
cycles of life. We too often let our
emotions drive us without recognizing that these emotions are simply that! Thoughts, feelings, and an endless cycle of
our brains inability to shut the hell up.
We find comfort and solace in turning back from the unknown; back into
the comfort of what we think we know. We
can easily look past the constant diatribe being thrown our way and let our
mind tell us that it’s “okay” or “normal”.
That it is just temporary and will change when circumstances change. Maybe the answer isn’t in accepting what is
pushing us, but to accept that it is NOT okay and that we need to redefine our
boundaries. We need to establish these
boundaries and place the edge where we see fit, and not where others want to
push us. When you accept the cyclical
patterns of abuse, neglect, disrespect, or dishonor, you are only letting
someone, or something, else dictate your fate.
Having the courage to turn your back on something
that you felt was important, that you know you love, is tantamount to sliding
right up to that edge and dangling your very soul over, into the unknown. Stopping the cycle can feel like jumping into
gravity’s embrace, and yet there is nothing more freeing than doing just
that. We are only here a very short time
and each day is precious. Each friend,
each experience is ours to define and ours to make all the richer. Time is not infinite and none of us are
getting out alive. The tomorrows will not stop coming, but you can make that tomorrow a daring adventure, or stand in the patterns of yesterday. While life is all
about patience, and I am a devout believer in second chances, sometimes you
must make the choice to break the cycle, to unbind yourself from the
chains. Give all that you can but always
keep some in reserve for the one who means the most…YOU. When you find yourself pushed to the edge,
and you have exhausted your very soul, walk a little closer. Dangle those toes over, spread your wings,
don’t look back…and fly! Fly into the
unknown. Soar into tomorrow and leave
the turbulent cycles behind. Have faith
in yourself and be the captain of your own soul.
