Posted by Terry S. (24.24.79.45) on June 08, 2000 at 14:10:41:
Bend, but Don't Break
One of my fondest memories as a child is going by the
river and sitting idly on the bank. There I would
enjoy the peace and quiet, watch the water rush
downstream, and listen to the chirps of birds and the
rustling of leaves in the trees. I would also watch
the bamboo trees bend under pressure from the wind and
watch them return gracefully to their upright or
original position after the wind had died down.
When I think about the bamboo tree's ability to bounce
back or return to it's original position, the word
resilience comes to mind. When used in reference to a
person this word means the ability to readily recover
from shock, depression or any other situation that
stretches the limits of a person's emotions.
Have you ever felt like you are about to snap? Have
you ever felt like you are at your breaking point?
Thankfully, you have survived the experience to live
to talk about it.
During the experience you probably felt a mix of
emotions that threatened your health. You felt
emotionally drained, mentally exhausted and you most
likely endured unpleasant physical symptoms.
Life is a mixture of good times and bad times, happy
moments and unhappy moments. The next time you are
experiencing one of those bad times or unhappy moments
that take you close to your breaking point, bend but
don't break. Try your best not to let the situation
get the best of you.
A measure of hope will take you through the unpleasant
ordeal. With hope for a better tomorrow or a better
situation, things may not be as bad as they seem to
be. The unpleasant ordeal may be easier to deal with
if the end result is worth having.
If the going gets tough and you are at your breaking
point, show resilience. Like the bamboo tree, bend,
but don't break