Strength

This week, I've been thinking a lot about strength. I read about it every day on some of my favorite blogs- people dealing with illnesses, people raising kids, people inventing new careers and lives for themselves. The strength to speak up, to write, to invest in their future.

I see it on the news- people coming out of retirement to talk a confused young man off of a radio tower where he spent 6 days without food and water. The strength to have patience and care for someone who everyone else has given up on.

I see it in my family & friends lives- the strength to send babies off to college, to transition a baby from a crib to a big boy bed, the strength to make choices that everyone may not agree with, but are right for you.

Strength. I've thought a lot about it the past few days with Maizy gone for her surgery. The quiet lonliness of my house reminded me of those days, months last fall when the silence in my apartment in the aftermath of my own personal war seemed suffocating.

As I train for Sunday's triathlon, I feel so strong. I push myself another mile because I think you're strong enough. Every step I take, mile I pedal, meter I swim, I am thankful for the strengh that's there- not just physically, though goodness knows I feel stronger physically than ever.

It's the inner strength I've discovered- fed by family, genuine friendships & faith that moves mountains- it's the inner strength I've discovered this year that makes me feel happier & healthier than ever.