Another day I awaken and another day I must always remember I can not control the actions of others. I can only control my response to those actions. I am a new person and I want to continue to grow as a man, husband, and father. I want to be a beacon of hope to the hopeless. I want to be someone people can look to for advice and guidance.
Strength by Fernando Cordova
Strength! How is strength seen by all? When I think of the word strength, the ancient pyramids come to mind. I contemplate the hands that created the bricks that made these pyramids stand for centuries. I wonder if these people ever questioned the work they were doing or if they ever envisioned that their work would last for so long. As a child, strength was who could pick up the heaviest weights or throw a ball the furthest. I viewed strength as a tree lasting through storms or a building staying erect after an earthquake.
This all changed when I was watching a podcast and the host mentioned a quote by Oprah Winfrey, ” Where there is no struggle there is no strength.” This statement changed the dynamics of the word strength for me. It brought a resounding new definition of how I viewed strength. Strength becomes the mother/father that raises their children alone, the child that endures the most unthinkable trauma and survives it, or the countless others that endure the struggles that some of us can not fathom. I think of the person that is incarcerated and is placed in an environment that is full of predators. I am sure many will say that a criminal is a criminal but there is a huge difference. Oprah’s quote should give us all a sense of peace. I make this statement because if we can all agree that this quote is true, then all of our struggles build in us one the greater character traits, strength!
We should all be proud of the strength it takes to navigate life and never give up. When I was sentenced to spend decades in prison I was devastated and lost. I felt that life was over for me. This led me to conform to the way of living in a negative manner in prison. Some call it the easy way out. I decided to give up who I truly was to avoid the hardships of prison life. I decided to lose my identity due to my fear of struggle. I did not have the strength it took to face all of my consequences. Never understanding that these struggles would build strength which would lead to resiliency.
I start to contemplate the strength it takes for an addict to take the steps necessary to become sober. When this has been a way of life for them. These things gave me a different outlook on life, which has led me to welcome the struggles. In order to grow both mentally and emotionally I must go through things that will bring me strength to overcome these things. It will make !e a better person, that these trials that I have gone through and continue to go through can help the next person. We can become a beacon of hope to those that may feel too weak to find the strength to come out of all their struggles standing tall. We no longer have to be servants to our struggles but become commanders of our lives through the strength that these struggles created. We must not cower to the struggles that befall us but break the chains of captivity and become the strength that resonates to all!
The strength I have found through my struggles has taken away the fear of the unknown and to embrace all that may come my way. I have built the strength to finally make a positive change in my life. The strength to face myself and be honest and see the need for change. It takes us all courage to make a change because we have comfort in our old ways, but for me it has been the best decision of my life. Not only was I impacted but my family as well. I can finally live up the potential I have always had. I found who I was and am excited for the next struggle because it will be a rewarding feeling to overcome it. Now is the time to face all obstacles with this new strength and continue to build it and be proud of it.
Let us all remember that struggle brings strength. Obviously nobody wants to go through any form of struggle but knowing that you have the strength to overcome it is one of the greatest feelings. This shows that our capacity to endure and survive is limitless. Let us not be defined by our struggle but how we had the strength to surpass those struggles. The strength of change is amazing.
