Because I Can…

Posted on by

people heart redSometimes, maybe a lot of times, we need to remember, or at least ponder, what this whole experience of life is supposed to be about.  We hear it all the time; it’s about love. It’s about helping one another.  It’s about lifting each other up when we’ve been pushed down by experiences too heavy to carry on our own.

Living this mindset to any great degree didn’t happen overnight for me nor did it come easy. My middle name is Macadamia, (look it up). It took a number of jarring incidents to make me stop and assess where I was heading and how. We call those incidents philosophical bricks.

Philosophical, schmilosophical – the solid OUCH of those bricks served to open my abilities to care beyond my immediate family needs and the occasional charity event. One clunker that demanded attention is a chronic health condition. When I’ve had to deal with acute phases of it or any other life crises, (I’m really good at getting those), I’ve had the honor of being taught time and time again how living up to life is actually demonstrated. As it turned out, it’s really not as hard as I once might have resentfully imagined.

Those who know me would likely say I’m a strong person.  I know I am.  If you haven’t been defeated by life’s bricks and kicks, you likely are, but there have been times when I’d been so far down, I’d have sworn I was at the end and I was good with that. Relieved even.

I wish I could say I pulled myself out of those periods of desolation by the straps of self-determination, but the truth is, the ball to real self-help really couldn’t have started rolling if I hadn’t first been shown the path via the hearts of my near and dear.

They weren’t the surgeons or psychologists or ministers.  They were the friends who came to me to talk, listen, and hold my hand while I cried. They shared their wisdom and their resources to nurse and support the basics of life.

At the worst of times, they managed to break through despair that was blocking my will to fight any more. They showed me how to breathe once again through those debilitating trials. They worked with great and gentle care to help me feel seen and heard.

Those acts of simple and generous kindnesses were teaching me how to be a better human being, even as I felt incapable of even existing. In the most exquisite and genuine ways, I learned how to act when life grabs a tight hold and demands immediate action for survival.

Compassion changes so many levels of pain. It infuses you with honest empathy. It changed me in ways that I hope never gets unchanged. They showed me how to get up and say, yes I can.

Yes, I can get through this day, pain, event. Yes, I can take time to tell someone I’m thinking of them. Yes, I can listen, yes I can cook a (barely edible) casserole for someone who can’t.  Yes, I can give a few dollars, even if it feels like I can’t afford to, yes I can help.  I can do all the things done for me and more. Yes, I can.

My ‘Yes, I Can’ mantra graduated to ‘Because I Can’.  For me ‘Yes, I can’ and ‘because I can’ means I am alive. I may be limited in talent or immediate resources, but I’m not limited in possibilities to demonstrate care.

It’s my sincere desire, maybe even an obligation, to live up to the promise, the truest meaning of life as so ably demonstrated by those loved ones I call heroes. ‘Yes, I can’ is more than a trite statement or a campaign slogan, it’s a way of life.

It’s not about becoming a saint or a world leader to do something that changes the world. You don’t even have to be a ‘good person’; if someone needs a hand, help them.  I’ll bet you’ll end up pretty happy too, and if not, then please be reasonable enough to settle for content. There are plenty of days in a life well-lived when that is more than enough.

RL

Originally Posted on June 1, 2013

25 thoughts on “Because I Can…”

  1. Excellent post Robyn. This is the first time I’ve seen this post as I’ve only been online for a year or so. What you write is so very true and so very real. Thank You.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

  2. Well said Robyn. It’s amazing how much pleasure you can derive from just small acts of kindness. And what may seem a small effort to us can make such a huge difference in someone’s life when they need it.
    xxx Huge Hugs xxx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

  3. Many, too many – treat others in a way they definitely do not want to be treated themselves – so morale must be to treat others as we wish others to treat us – then if it gives problems so we must treat others as they treat us – respect must act both ways – I don’t like about peer pressure and don’t like the “them and us” philosophy – although I’m very social person, I choose my friends and enemies myself… 😀

    Very well written – a very interesting australian tree always fresh and green… 😀

    Enjoy your day… 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

    • Hey, Tony, I’m glad to see you and thanks for your note. They always say you don’t know who your friends are until you need them. I found that to be very true, and honestly, at times, incredibly painful. It made me appreciate the ones who were near all that much more. I also found that the more I became the friend I wanted, the more of those I got too. Took a little time, but yes, I do have me some really great friends.

      Like

      Reply ↓

  7. In my role at work, I go out & speak to organizations delivering essentially the message you have written about in this post. It is a message we all need to hear & yet one that many seem deaf to. Thank you for sharing this insightful piece Robyn.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

    • Hello Lynn – I have absolutely no problem seeing you as an inspiring message deliverer. It’s evident in the lightness of your smile and confirmed in your writing. Thanks for your kind words today.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

  8. Sounds like you have some wonderful friends- and one can’t have too many for sure. I can think of a few people who got me through some very tough times and stuck by me even when they could have easily walked away- and I often credit them with saving me in more ways than one.

    This struck me, esp. “Compassion changes so many levels of pain. It infuses you with honest empathy. It changed me in ways that I hope never gets unchanged.” Really profound about the power of compassion and how it reverberates.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

    • I do have great friends who really are family. It took awhile to meet them, but when they started coming, man they flowed in. Really nice feeling to know there’s someone I can count on for whatever reason. It’s kind of like the little shot of warmth when I see your name come up on my notices. It’s always been an honor for me to know Diahann Reyes read my note because I respect your talent and intelligence so much. Have an awesome May, Diahann. I am working on catching up again, so I will be back on your site soon. Hugs!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

  10. This is gorgeous Robyn and inspires me in so many ways. Have you read or seen any of the #1000Speak posts? I’ll tweet your post and tag it there – your words speak the hearts who are trying to live and preach the same. So good to see you – you always make me smile. xo
    Michelle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

    • Hey, Michelle! How great to see you! I haven’t seen the #1000Speak posts and thank you for sharing this with those. I have been off fighting dragons for a while, so I haven’t been able to do much blog participation. I can’t tell you how much I miss it when I’m away and there’s no doubt you are one of the reasons i do miss it. Will check out some of those posts, they sound like a great idea.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

      • I found them accidentally on Twitter and am amazed and inspired at the compassion of people. As for blogging…I’ve been on a break, too. It’ soooo refreshing, though, I miss friends like you. I hope you’re doing well. As for our respective breaks? I know we’ll both be here and reconnect like we never took a break at all. It’s how friends do 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply ↓

What's on your mind, let's talk about it...