I’m guessing many of us have heard the advice that if you’re caught in a current in the ocean, to not struggle and fight against the current because that only tires you out and actually can pull you farther from shore. I’m not a good swimmer (I’m pretty much not a swimmer at all), so I don’t know if that’s true or not. What I do know is that the counsel to not struggle but to go with the flow (or current) applies to just about everything else in my life.
I am a fighter. It’s maybe taken me years to admit that, and nearly everyone close to me would most likely agree. When I’m hit with a challenge, or I think I’m hit with a challenge, my first impulse is to summon up my strength and take the challenge on headfirst. I give it my all. I dive all in. I metaphorically (and sometimes literally) kick and scream.
I struggle.
Sometimes when things feel even tougher than usual, I just might wallow in the pain and suffering. I just might allow myself to kick up all the old baggage that is similar – or even just a little bit similar. I just might allow myself to stay with the pain, and ache for all my past aches.
I struggle.
But I’ve realized over the years that my struggle is not worth it. It generally doesn’t get me the results I want, and it generally doesn’t get me the sympathy I want. And, when I stop and think about it, I don’t really want sympathy anymore anyway.
My struggle doesn’t bring me any good. It pulls me down. It slows me down. It drags down others around me.
I don’t deny my pain anymore. I don’t pretend it’s not there, like I used to when I was a child. But I also don’t need to stay in it or with it any longer.
I don’t need to struggle. It’s not worth it.
I’d love to hear your thoughts, and please share this post with others if it resonates with you!
