One of my fondest memories as a child is going by the river and
sitting idly on the bank. There I would enjoy the peace and quiet,
watch the water rush downstream, and listen to the chirps of birds
and the rustling of leaves in the trees. I would also watch the bamboo
trees bend under pressure from the wind and watch them return
gracefully to their upright or original position after the wind had died
down.
When I think about the bamboo tree’s ability to bounce back or return
to its original position, the word resilience comes to mind. When used
in reference to a person this word means the ability to readily recover
from shock, depression or any other situation that stretches the limits
of a person’s emotions.
Have you ever felt like you are about to snap? Have you ever felt like
you are at your breaking point? Thankfully, you have survived the
experience to live to talk about it.
During the experience you probably felt a mix of emotions that
threatened your health. You felt emotionally drained, mentally
exhausted and you most likely endured unpleasant physical
symptoms.
Life is a mixture of good times and bad times, happy moments and
unhappy moments. The next time you are experiencing one of those
bad times or unhappy moments that take you close to your breaking
point then bend but don’t break. Try your best not to let the situation
get the best of you.
A measure of hope will take you through the unpleasant ordeal. With
hope for a better tomorrow or a better situation, things may not be as
bad as they seem to be. The unpleasant ordeal may be easier to deal
with if the end result is worth having.
If the going gets tough and you are at your breaking point, show
resilience like the bamboo tree, bend, but don’t break!
