Challenges? Smile ... most of the time, it’s the only thing you can do

Life, for me, has never let up its battle, and karma has not been kind

One of the many quotes I have up on my bathroom wall that strikes me the most says “it is not enough to know how to ride, you must also know how to fall,” and if that doesn’t depict my whole life in a single sentence, I don’t know what would. Seriously, from a comedic perspective, as an amputee, I fall down all the time! This quote is both encouraging to my psyche, and reminds me to keep my emotions balanced, to make a better effort at not toppling over.

It’s all very metaphorical and meaningful to me, but it’s what gets me by. We all need that in life, you know - it really shouldn’t be underrated, needing things to get us by.

Maybe for you this means it’s something materialistic, or a physical supplement of some kind that makes you grow the way you want to. Maybe it’s spiritual, a religion even, that you put your trust in to know this whole thing isn’t for nothing.

Life isn’t for nothing. No matter what we might do and regret, or may not have the vision to see we’re making the wrong choices while we’re making them; there’s still a purpose.

I’ve said this once before, but I’ll say it again because it truly resonates with me: We are made of the people we interact with; who we cash time into; the thoughts we think; the things we say; and overall, what we do with ourselves when nobody’s watching.

Then, the most important thing you might get out of this is: life is for you and you only. You may find temporary satisfaction in the validation you get from social media, but it will never have the power to heal what’s going on for you internally. You’re the only one who can save you. So what keeps me going? Holding on with delicate, writer hands, hoping to the universe I don’t lose myself while being blown about by the winds of life’s resilient mouth?

I write; writing keeps me going. This, right now, knowing my words will be read by more than just my own eyes and my family’s, brings a sense of calm to me. I embrace my artistic abilities, and overwhelming love for Gaia - Mother Earth. I sing when nobody’s home with the windows open, and in turn make my singing bowls chime in delight while I sit on the ground, in the grass.

I pay attention to myself - how I’m feeling and what I’m thinking. I do my best to keep in touch, and affirm myself that I am loved by myself.

I - newly - work out. I say mantras to cleanliness; keeping my face, space, and body, inside and out, a well-nourished temple.

For a while there, I had found myself in a position where I had forgotten to stay true to myself, and look after myself. In remembering to reflect, I summon to mind that my life is not for nothing, but for me. 100 per cent.

Cancer has taken strips out of me, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Life, for me, has never let up its battle, and karma has not been kind. But I refuse to spread hate. Here, another quote I quite admire that comes to mind is, “cheer up, the worst is yet to come.” A blatant slap in the face, but so necessary to anyone who believes nonsense drama is of greater significance than major life events.

Whatever is happening to you, it may be significant to you, but remember it may not be at the same level to anyone else in direct relation to the situation. In this case, I remember that “life is a mirror; smile and it smiles back.”