by Samantha Dunn

Created on: August 11, 2009

They say hind sight is 20/20. I think I believe in that. I also know that with hind sight I have changed my definition of strength. Strong to me is no longer a definition of how much weight a person can lift or how hard they can hit a punching bag. Strength is how many times a father hugs a child that was not from his loins, how many mistakes a mother supports her child through. How many abuses can be taken without hate. How many times a person can forgive wrongs, how many times a person can let go their anger. Strength is an inner light. Strength is a part of someones soul not their physical appearance.

Strength is a friend named Phil who carried on with his life and took care of his son after his partner Nancy died. Strength was defined in his every hug and every day he worked. It was defined by the discipline and the healthy snacks. It was defined by the fact he never let himself sink far enough to forget about his son, like so many parents can do after the death of a spouse or partner.

Strength I saw in a friend named Caroline with Fibromyalgia. Her husband a narcissist who convinced everyone she was crazy and tried to take her children away from her. Strength was in her will not to sink into depression, not to take a thousand painkillers the doctors were willing to prescribe, to stand up to a man who frightened her to death for her children.

Strength is my current boyfriend who I hope to be with for a long time. For continuing to try and find love after so many bad relationships. For being willing to see that I was not like all of his ex girlfriends. For continuing to open his heart after having it broken time and time again. For not closing up and convincing himself that all women were bad and that he was better of without one. His strength is in his efforts to keep looking.

Strength is in my neighbor who lives her life as she sees fit. Who lived in an age where un married women were rare and frowned upon. Who had the strength to live her life the way she wanted even though she faced disapproval.

Strength was in me, is in me for not letting the abusers break my spirit. For not braking down or giving up. Strength is still in me for trying to keep my life going. For opening my heart to try and love again. For trying to find love despite my abused past. For moving on and forgiving those that treated me poorly. For being able to move on and learn from my past but not live in it.

Strength is in everybody that tries, strength is in the child that gets off the ground and tries to ride the bike again. Strength is in the person that puts aside their pain of loss for their child. Strength is the person who overcomes their physical problem, or fears to be there for someone else. Strength is doing what is Right for you even though everyone else says it is wrong. It is trying to find love after your heart has been broken. It is forgiveness. It is not letting your past taint the present or future. Strength is something every one can use a little bit of.

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