“Every situation in life is temporary. So, when life is good, be sure to enjoy and receive it fully. And when life is not so good, remember that it will not last forever and better days are on the way.” – Bruce Lee
We’ve all been there – “between a rock and a hard place”. We may not know how we got there, but we do eventually get out.
What does it take to “get out”? After all, it’s our choice whether to stay or to go.
We have to decide to get out.
We have to change our situation, take control of the our lives, be responsible for our own life.
What does responsibility look like in my life? Am I responsible? Do others see me as responsible? Who am I failing when I am not responsible?
Choices. Decisions. Responsibilities. Three heavy burdens to bear. How we manage each of them defines who we are. So, who are you?
My brother and I discuss this rather frequently, and quite honestly, I think he helps me more than I help him. During one such conversation I asked him how he balances the challenges of work, family and the external pressures of daily living. His response, “I am the rock. No matter what is going on around here, no matter how good or bad or busy, I have to maintain and be the solid one. I have to be the strong one. Everyone looks to me when life is going to hell in a hand basket. There is no other option, period. It’s all on me and, yes, it sucks sometimes, but what are you going to do? Somebody has to deal with it and that somebody is “me”. And you know what, you’re your family’s rock too buddy, whether you like it or not; whether you want to be it or not. You, my brother, are their rock”.
Then I asked, “But dude, what the hell does the rock do when the rock is tired ,worn out, and frustrated because dude, this rock sure gets tired and beaten up by life sometimes.”
“You gotta talk with other rocks. That’s why I call you almost every day. You think I like talking with you? No I don’t… I call you because you’re a rock. You bring a different perspective. You know me and you know when I’m “tight” and need to unwind, relax, blow off steam…whatever. You always can tell when I need to laugh and you provide that for me. I also call dad, sometimes just to say ‘hello’ but most of the time just to hear his voice because some day I won’t be able to. Besides, he’s ‘been there, done that’ so maybe I can save beating my head on the wall by listening to what he has to say about things; unlike when we were kids…right? Oh, and be sure to get some ‘alone time’, even if it’s just a few minutes here and there. You gotta find time because the rock needs to regroup and shutdown at times. You gotta take care of you too…”
And he continued, “but here’s the thing…what happens to rock when pressure is applied? It turns into a diamond, my man, you’re turning into a diamond. We’re becoming diamonds. Right now maybe we’re ‘diamonds in the rough’, but ya know what…some day we’ll both be diamonds, all strong, shiny and priceless and then maybe, just maybe we can sit back and watch other ‘rocks’ in our life become diamonds. So, you got that going for ya.”
He’s the one that sent me the Bruce Lee quote I used at the start of this. Funny thing though, he was the one having a “challenging day” at the office when we talked earlier that day, and yet, he’s the one sending me the motivation/inspiration instead of it being the other way around.
That’s a ‘rock’ for ya…
Dan’s View 