My dear sister, Patty aka Patrice, gave me a "Hope" journal for my birthday. Two great things about this gift: I love to journal, and I've been struggling with keeping the faith lately. I decided to write ever so freely in this journal. If it has spiritual undertones, it does, and if it doesn't, then it won't. As I see fit, I will include some entries that I feel might touch others. I thought this one might. Here goes:
Hope gives me air to breathe. Life's events can punch you like a boxer until you fall on the ground. Blow by blow, to the ribcage, to the arms, the stomach. You can only block for so long. Just as you gasp for a small breathe of air, a glance of hope, that's when life takes its final hit, and you are sent sprawling to the mat. In and out of consciousness you struggle with your reality. You don't know what's up and what's down, your left from your right. Just as you are about to throw in the towel and succumb to your opposing boxer, you feel a little spark of energy from within. A glimmer of hope awakens your senses. You realize that it's not time to give up. It's not time to admit defeat. You are not powerless yet--You still have hope. As the referee is doing the count, you slowly rise to your feet. With your spirits, your arms start to raise. And as you get into position, the bell rings.
Yeah, that's how I feel right now. I rose from being down. I know I have rounds to go. I know the fight isn't over, But I'm ready. I'm resting and preparing, so that when the bell rings, I will be ready to fight. No more playing defense. I'm taking on the world and all that this life has to offer. I'm so used to being defeated. I'm so used to being down. But I don't like it. I don't want to be down for the count anymore. I want to stand. My resilience amazes me. I took a helluva lot of punches. Some will leave permanent bruises. So what. The thing that matters most is that I got up. I am up. And I'm ready for another round. Yeah, life's gonna hit hard, sometimes harder than in the previous rounds but I'm ready for it. I'm ready to fight.
