slapping at demons

“You can bend but never break me
‘Cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
‘Cause you’ve deepened the conviction in my soul

Oh yes, I am wise

But it’s wisdom born of pain
Yes, I’ve paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong”

— Helen Reddy, I Am Woman

They say, you made your bed
now you should lie in it.
Lie there and cry in it.
Some don’t care if you languish there
and die in it.

Every now and again you’ll crawl away from it
and revisit the possibility of living the way you’re supposed to;
throw everything you’ve got into
this good thing and that good thing
smile at a painting
drive and sing

until the little bastard devils of sordid reality
grip your hair,
and your hands,
and your soul,

until you’re bowled over with such a sense of giving up and
they’re living it up inside your brain —
the bane of your existence is the insane thought that
hope is tangible,
touchable,
reachable.

So…try to stay teachable.
Try to remember, and learn.
Discern between the temporary sadness,
the inescapable times,
and the knowledge that the burdens we carry
are oftentimes temporary.

Not always.
But then, seldom does anything stay static.
Try not to panic.

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