Strength

There are days I just do not feel I have any strength left in me to get through another day. To battle the aches, pains and exhaustion of Fibromyalgia. The other day I was holding my purse on my forearm, as it felt too heavy on my shoulder. My arm cramped. It was so painful I winced , right in the middle of a grocery store I nearly let out a little moan of discomfort. Today I was out walking and was trying to hold up my umbrella and could barely do it, and when I had gotten my coffee had to switch hands every few seconds or drop it because my grip is so weak now. I came home feeling so old and defeated and saw a pile of laundry that needed doing for my husband, and a kitchen that had to be straitened, and all I wanted was the warmth and comfort of my bed and to sleep off soreness , instead of I gathered my inner strength and got down to business on my chores and pushed through them.

My teeth are getting worse. Looser, more pain filled. They are sensitive to everything now. Even the toothpaste and mouthwash feel too cold. I mentioned before that the other day I could see the cracks in the mirror. My gums are irritated so badly that I fear infections. Eating is torture. But each day I do what I need to do to clean them and to get nutrition into me. That takes inner strength.

Walking through a store, unable to buy what I need or want takes an inner strength of a different type. But I am always so proud of myself when I can do so and not feel totally horrible about our financial situation. To remind myself that this too shall pass.

When one of my daughters, or my husband is having a rough time , I lend them some of my inner strength and remind them to seek out their own. My husband says I am his strength, his rock. Every time I want to give up or in to all that is going on in my life, with my health, I recall that and it renews my inner strength.

My last blog was about believing. That takes a lot of inner strength. I have to work very hard day in and day out to stay strong and keep believing. Even after writing that blog I had a moment of wavering. Then I checked Twitter before bed, and one of the inspiring quotes that I follow posted simply, "Believe" . That made me feel emotionally strong.

There are all sorts of strengths. Not all of them mean a physical strength. There is emotional strength. Strength of will. Strength of spirit. Strength of character. Strength in numbers . Strength in faith. I am sure I am missing a few. What is your strength, how do you find it? How do you hold onto that strength during tough times? How do you renew that strength in yourself and others when needed?

Strength and Courage

Author: Sylvia Kelly

It takes strength to be certain,
It takes courage to have doubts.

It takes strength to fit in,
It takes courage to stand out.

It takes strength to share a friend's pain,
It takes courage to feel your own pain.

It takes strength to hide your own pain,
It takes courage to show it and deal with it.

It takes strength to stand guard,
It takes courage to let down your guard.

It takes strength to conquer,
It takes courage to surrender.

It takes strength to endure abuse,
It takes courage to stop it.

It takes strength to stand alone,
It takes courage to lean on a friend.

It takes strength to love,
It takes courage to beloved.

It takes strength to survive,
It takes courage to live.

I wish you true inner