Ange's Got Moxie

Are you a strong person who refuses to give up or give in? Are you a patient or caregiver? I've been and still am, both. This blog is all about my journey. I also love life in the country and love to laugh and try to see things with humor.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Adversity


“The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.” – Mulan

If only that were completely true.  Have you ever taken a good look at some of the flowers considered most rare?  While beauty is subjective, I don’t find some of them to be beautiful at all.  In fact, some of them are downright ugly to me.  Others are quite delightful to look upon and marvel.

Another quote about adversity reads, “The fire of adversity will melt you like butter or temper you like steel.  The choice is yours.”  That seems a little harsh, doesn’t it?  That we must become like steel when dealing with adversity in our lives. 

Living with and being a survivor of any chronic illness is overcoming adversity, day after day.  Does it make each of us beautiful or temper us or melt us in the same way?    Does it even make one of us beautiful, hard like steel or melt us like butter all the time?  I don’t think so.    There are too many hills and valleys with chronic illness.  We must face each day with new purpose, new resolve and new determination to fight to be well.  Some days are really good and we are really beautiful.  Some days we can’t help but melt like butter.  Each day we need some temper, like steel, but not so much that we are hard-hearted and cold to the world around us.

One of my favorite quotes reads, “I am strong because I am weak.  I’m beautiful because I know my flaws.  I am fearless because I have been afraid.   And, I am happy because I have known true sadness.”

Each of those things applies to my life with chronic illness.  And each of the positive is a choice I make over and over again.  We each choose how adversity will affect us and whether we bloom or not.  I bloom best when I choose strength, courage and happiness.

2 comments:

  1. While I don't have a chronic illness, I deal with one everyday. You are right, attitude makes a difference. It's what you say to yourself every morning that matters. Stay positive.

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    1. Kim, this post most definitely applies to caregivers, too! You need lot's of credit for every day. I know you need strength and courage. Reading your blog, I also know that you bloom. :)

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