Finding strength in challenging times

"Courage is not having the strength to go on, it is going on when you don't have the strength." ~ Theodore Roosevelt.

Reflecting on the year in general, I couldn't help but think what a year it's been.

On the one hand, I've enjoyed climbing and hiking, being out in the wild, and breathing in fresh air.

But there have been times when I've had to dig deep when the stress levels felt impossible to conquer; I thought I would suffocate.

There have been obstacles to overcome, not least managing work while visiting my mum in hospital during May and June, ensuring my dad was looked after, and all this while living a long distance away.

There have been times when I have questioned my faith when I feel I've given the best I can, only for another challenge to get in the way of moving forward.

But when I look back, just when I think I couldn't go on for much longer, I have found the resilience and determination to keep going.

Amazing what the human body and mind are capable of when up against it.

We often underestimate our capabilities.

Yet, when our backs are against the wall, we find something profound within us; whether it's energy, inspiration, or bloody stubbornness, we break through.

Our resolve or determination call it what you want never ceases to amaze me.

Our strength to fight back and stand our ground can be awesome, but we cannot control what is outside of our control, and recognising this has been the greatest lesson I have learned this year.

I am a self-confessed control freak (but in a good way).

Think of Monica in "Friends," the one with the shoes left in the doorway. And yes, that's pretty much me. If I could manage the weather, I would.

But as a good friend recently pointed out, I don't think you are any more of a control freak than the next person.

You like order and routine rather than chaos and madness, and she's right.

I function well when my house runs smoothly, nothing is broken, the washing is done, and the beds are made.

If you opened my wardrobes well, you'd be lucky to survive the avalanche.

On the outside, I look planned and well-organised. On the inside, I am chaos.

And I think that probably describes the menopausal version of me, a phase of life that brought its own set of challenges and changes, both physically and emotionally. It's a journey of self-discovery and acceptance that I'm still navigating.

When faced with adversity, I've always strived to be purposeful and take action.

It may not feel like much, but looking back, I can see the progress I've made and the things I've accomplished.

And here we are in December. Is it a month for quiet contemplation and reflection?

As I look back on the year, I know I am three weeks from 2025, and I do not want to get caught up in goals and plans for next year but enjoy the festive season.

Well, that's what I am telling myself.

Rather than looking back, I am looking forward.

That is, until I check my 2024 key goals and that I have ticked three out of six. I suppose that isn't bad.

I was recently reminded that life is fragile.

My dearest friend lost her mother at the weekend. A reasonably agile and fit woman for her age who succumbed to a short illness.

At least my friend was spared long-term anguish.

My parents spent the weekend with us, and I, too, was reminded of the frailty of age and that nothing in this life is guaranteed.

Life's events, whether joyful or painful, are a learning experience.

Although it may not seem like it at the time, life's ups and downs are integral to our growth.

Take school, for example. If you ask most people what they remember of their school career, many will respond with fondness and good memories.

My schooling was horrendous at times, yet years after, I only recall the good times and have happy memories.

We learn from bad times so we are stronger the next time we are down.

I guess the moral of this tale is to face each challenge head-on, learn, adapt, and move on to success, and not be hard on oneself just because we might not have ticked all the boxes on the things we wanted to achieve or completed this year.

Reading my own words, I would do well to heed them.

After all, there is always tomorrow.