Blessed Are the Wounded

This is a blog about you.  It’s going to appear for a bit that it’s about resilience, or never giving up, or other people, but this blog is really about you.

As I wrote about in this post, all of us, even the most positive, proactive people must endure an agonizing level of suffering as we go through life.  Prosperity consciousness, along with mindful and healthy living will allow you to avoid an excess, but suffering will never be off the menu.  At some point or another, we all face unspeakable hardship, tragic losses, and what seems to be unbearable sorrow.  Wellness comes with sickness, youth comes with aging, and life comes with death.  It’s a package deal. 

Contrary to all those chirpy Instagram posts you see posted every day, everyone you know is suffering, recently got over suffering, or is about to face suffering. They received a distressing medical diagnosis, or they’re taking care of someone else with one. They might be powerless over an addiction or love someone else who is.  They might be euphoric with their new promotion only to lose a beloved pet the next day.  They could be suffering from back pain, have a parent suffering from dementia, be battling depression, or trying to help their child out of a dysfunctional relationship.

The superheroes who wear capes are in Marvel and Justice League films.  The real superheroes are dressed like you and me. These heroes are the people struggling to hold their families together, looking out for the less fortunate, and facing down violence, poverty, and tyranny.  And unlike Iron Man, Superman, and Wonder Woman, they don’t have superpowers, special armor or Batmobiles.  They are vulnerable, experiencing pain, and frequently wounded. 

As you look around the world and chronicle the people who are alleviating pain, fighting injustice, and caring for others, it isn't the well-adjusted, happy, pain and drama free ones you might expect. The people who hold themselves together…hold their families together…hell, hold our society together…are not the invincible superheroes, but the wounded souls.  These are the people who have every right to give up, wallow in their own misery, and descend into victimhood, but don’t.  Instead, they stoically suck it up, and look outside of themselves to extend a helping hand to another.  They adopt a pet, foster a child, give blood, volunteer at a shelter, man a suicide hotline, check in on a neighbor, donate to a charity, hold someone's hand, or just be there to listen.

But you already knew all this.  Because this post is about you.

Peace,

- RG

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