What makes you strong in face of difficulties?

[Just Me]

What drives you forward in spite of challenges?

:cry: My inner resources just aren't working for me this week and I would like to hear about the pillars utilized by others. Tomorrow, the one member of my family with whom I have a close relationship, will leave to be trained before being shipped off to Iraq. I swear to God, I feel like I am being ripped apart! :cry:

How do people draw strength in face of such circumstances? My strength is failing me. :cry:

[brainshrub]

1. A hug from a loved one helps me

Heres one for you:

:hug:

[knowbody0]

2. hey

if ever there was a time to feel like shit, it is now. you may never see this person again. let him know if he needs anything, that you are there for him. stay in touch.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Age, orneriness, and the realization that everything is temporary.

[Redstone]

19. Well said, ocelot. Obliviousness helps too.

And one other thing: Acquire four concussions. The loss of memory will hwlp you not worry about things, because you don't worry about what you can't remember.

Redstone

[Tux]

4. Through it all

I get past it with this: we are in a stream of time (events) when we can't change the course of the stream, try to change the section you're in so the rest of the stream may mimic it even a tiny bit.

[Straight Shooter]

5. I haven't been in your shoes since my father & brother went to Vietnam

What helps me through trials of life such as medical scares, intimidating bullies, job loss, I just look heavenward, I reach up my hands and say, "I cannot control this, I will let you, the Universe, guide this and trust that you know best." If you are a believer in God, then put your faith there. Or the angels, or whatever spirit you think is there to help you. Keep trying.

I do what I can, when I can, and the rest I leave to whatever powers there may be that oversee the human race. And I must be prepared to accept their decision. When bush got into office again, I knew there were terrible times ahead for all of us, but I also knew that there must be a reason beyond what we can perceive.

I hope you find strength in knowing that most of us at DU are doing all we can, whenever we can, to keep your loved one from harm and returned safely home as soon as possible.

:hug:

[jayctravis]

22. amen.

[Southsideirish]

6. Meditate, exercise and pray. n/t

[sweetheart]

7. surrender

Rather than avoiding certain feelings, surrender to them totally.
Feel them "now", the fear and all the stuff beneath it. What i find,
is that fear is actually a rather shallow emotion; that beneath it,
is something richer and more profound.

Avoiding feelings is the logic of a child, yet we carry the logic in to
adulthood, as if it works! When the truth is, that the human spirit
does not break so easily, and there is tremendous power in facing the
things we run from.

It is not advise, but rather my way of dealing with adversity as you
say... to adopt it as a child and love it. There is NOTHING to be
afraid of. Death will take us all, and when you come to direct terms
with that, there is no fear that is threatening, and it all bounces
off.

The sublime universe has cared for you and your family all this time,
and it will never abandon you, beyond reason and beyond death.
Have courage and face those fleeting fears, as what is left but to
find out whether there is substance to them or not... to spend a lifetime
running from ghosts.

namaste,
-s

[undeterred]

14. good advice...

Lean into it.

[Big Kahuna]

8. I heard this song at a recent Pagan gathering.

It gives me hope, that no matter how f**ked up our government becomes, we can still find ways to be a thorn in their side. :)

---

A Pict Song

Rome never looks where she treads.
Always her heavy hooves fall
On our stomachs, our hearts or our heads;
And Rome never heeds when we bawl.
Her sentries pass on -- that is all,
And we gather behind them in hordes,
And plot to reconquer the Wall,
With only our tongues for our swords.

We are the Little Folk -- we!
Too little to love or to hate.
Leave us alone and you'll see
How we can drag down the State!
We are the worm in the wood!
We are the rot at the root!
We are the taint in the blood!
We are the thorn in the foot!

Mistletoe killing an oak --
Rats gnawing cables in two --
Moths making holes in a cloak --
How they must love what they do!
Yes -- and we Little Folk too,
We are busy as they --
Working our works out of view --
Watch, and you'll see it some day!

No indeed! We are not strong,
But we know Peoples that are.
Yes, and we'll guide them along
To smash and destroy you in War!
We shall be slaves just the same?
Yes, we have always been slaves,
But you -- you will die of the shame,
And then we shall dance on your graves!

We are the Little Folk, we, etc.

-- Rudyard Kipling

[VioletLake]

9. Love

is what all my specific answers boil down to.

[Gyre]

10. psychotropic drugs

I thought that was how everybody did it!

[Lannes]

11. I wish I had an easy answer

But the thing that keeps me going in rough times is knowing that Ive been through them before and I know I can get through them again.

You might consider joining a group consisting of families of veterans in Iraq.They will know better than anyone what you are going through and you can help each other through these difficult times.

I wish only the best for you and your family member.Take care.

[libhill]

12. I just rant, rave, curse -

Maybe go out in the yard and kick your lawn mower - blowing off steam just helps, sometimes.

[me b zola]

13. Being a part of something that is bigger than myself

If you are a believer, prayer, meditation. If not,commune with the cosmos :)

Surround yourself with loved ones

Create!!


Also, working to defeat something/someone who is evil and bringing harm to me or mine gives me strength. Keep logging on to DU. Every letter that you write or action that you take to bring about the end of the war & the end of the pResidency of * will keep the sense of helplessness at bay.

[seabeyond]

15. i am a believer there is a higher in all things

stuff comes to us, it is what we do with them. you are in a sad time. your experience calls for you to be sad. cant fool self on that. you are allowed. it is honoring the person you love. allow yourself. also understand much of your pain comes from fear. fear is created from a story told of past or a story told of future. always in the now of it, there is no fear. it is what you think could happen, that is actually causing you a pain. it isnt happening, it isnt real, yet still you feel a pain

i use music. to get into sound. i also have some energy exercise i use. the energy within self is powerful. i find the beauty, gifts we are continually given. i find the beauty in nature and in children and in love that is all around. i remember all the things i am thankful for, and i say them out loud.

and if you need to shut down for a while, that is ok too.

listen to self. let self tell you what your needs are. self knows the best.

[erinlough]

16. I've drawn strength

from believing that where ever I am in life that is exactly where I need to be. Then I try to find out what I am supposed to learn from this. I have had a lot of loss this year and this is what has gotten me through everything. It takes me time to find the lesson and sometimes it is quite painful, but it has worked for me.

If I was saying goodby to my son as he leaves for Iraq, I fear I could not bear it. I have much sympathy for your situation, I wish you luck with your journey.

[GetTheRightVote]

17. I have a deep sense of right and wrong which keeps me fired up

Lately, I have been really fired up alot.

:mad:

:kick:

[proud patriot]

18. I get strength from my husband and son

They keep me going .

[leftofthedial]

20. less and less it seems

I'm getting pretty fed up. Trying to do the right thing and trying each day to leave the world a better place than it was when I woke up in the morning seems less and less like a plan and more and more like stupidity.

I used to be buoyed by just plain stubborness, belief in myself, a desire to make my kids and other family members proud of me (they obviously don't give a shit no matter what I do), a belief that there is some sort of karmic balance (a belief I no longer hold--what was I thinking?), and a belief that hard work eventually pays off (another belief I no longer hold).

good luck.

[Redstone]

21. Volunteer. When you help people who are

worse off than you (and there are always plenty of those), it puts your situation into perspective.

Not that you don't have legitimate reasons to be upset, mind you, and my advice is not meant to imply that.

It's just what works for me.

Redstone

[jayctravis]

23. Do not let aggression rule you.

Channel this seemingly unstoppable potential grief and energy into constructive pursuits. Appreciate those around you with the same undying love. You may feel that this will kill you, but knowing that this does not makes you stronger.