How Strong (Mentally, Emotionally) Are You, The People, Really?

I lived alot of Life, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Yeah, I sound like an old guy, yet I am not getting any younger.

Seeing all that alot of friends, family as well as myself have been through (Mentally, Finacially, Physically, Emotionally), I cannot help but question the mettle of those looking in from the outside. The Support from those that we all encounter is nothing short of fantastic and something to marvel. But it makes me question a few items:

"Can those looking in from the outside TRULY Hang in the face of this type of adversity?"

"If it was you, how soon would you give up on yourself, knowing full well that this would be your Life from that day forward?"

"If you would and could turn to someone, would they welcome and embrace you with open arms and let you know that you will survive and be just fine? Or would they turn their back on you, only to leave you buried in your woes and citing that they were never your Ally in your struggle initially?"


Let's look at Question 1: "Can those looking in from the outside TRULY Hang in the face of this type of adversity?"

I ran into so few of these types, that it made me smile. This is the question that a few friends of mine answered very honestly:

"No, I couldn't hang and do what you do."

I have so much Respect for those that can answer this one in this fashion. It tells me that they are THAT Honest within themselves that they can answer this question truthfully and know their limitations. I truly Love those that can say this and not be embarrassed to say it, instead of putting on a mask and portaying themselves as a fraud.

Question 2: "If it was you, how soon would you give up on yourself, knowing full well that this would be your Life from that day forward?"

Now with this question, I heard people say that they wouldn't give up on themselves. To tell the Truth, I think otherwise.

Not everyone is built in the fashion to take on a Traumatic occurence in their Life to where they would be that strong within themselves to sustain their sanity. HONESTLY, there aren't too many people that are mentally equipped and adept to handle occurences of this nature.

I would be a cynical liar if I said that I do not seek a bit of pleasure in seeing those people who think that they are "All That" to take on a heavy load such as those that are taking in a heavy load on the regular, only to watch in awe for them to fall flat on their face. Realistically, they wouldn't be able to know how to take that First and Critical Step in which to learn how to handle as well as deal with those that are struggling in their own way.

Would you trade places with those people that are carrying a heavier load than you? No, you would not. And for the very simple reason that you refuse and cannot accept the fact that you are, in truth, Weaker than what you claim. My suggestion for those that are this way is simple: Grow a set, be upfront and honest within yourself and stop lying to others. More importantly, stop lying to yourself about how allegedly "Strong" you are. Leave the True Strength to the Professionals, like myself.

Question 3 is obviously a Two-Parter: "If you would and could turn to someone, would they welcome and embrace you with open arms and let you know that you will survive and be just fine? Or would they turn their back on you, only to leave you buried in your woes and citing that they were never your Ally in your struggle initially?"

Part One, I have benefitted so much from that, it calms me and fuels my desire to be even stronger than before. I can name names as far as those that have walked with me and have walked by my side through the Hell that WE (And I can damn sure say We) been through. I know from the first part that I am living not only for myself, but living for those that are with me; Giving them Strength, Motivation and Desire to be better and stronger than before. Their Strength is reciprocated through me, causing their strength to flourish in tendfold.

Part Two, is a little trickier to answer, but hey. This is Andrew we are talking about.

Those that hear what is going on with you as they smile and nod like the idiots that they are, are already planning their "Exit Strategy" to not be the Support System that is Critical to your mentality that is already fragile due to the situation(s) in which you are going through.

This is the "Classic" mark of a self absorbed individual that could care less about what is going on in your Life UNTIL it happens to them. Then they are looking for your Sympathy which we, as those that have been or are STILL in that situation(s), are going to show towards them during their time in need.

Why do we do that? Because we, as those who struggled with the sitation(s), are Compassionate towards those who are experiencing that same hardship. Those that are going through items in their Life are Naturally Compassionate for others, because we know that Life is hard, and we deal as best as possible all the while we uplift those that are struggling.

At the same time, those that are turning their back on those individuals, they are in fact giving us that much more motivation to push even harder than before, just to show OURSELVES (Not them) that we can Hang in there and ride things out and get through the Struggle. So in reality, their Weakness is truly our Strength.


All in all, How Strong are you all Really? I know my Strength. I know the strength that my closest friends possess. If you are truly that strong for your friends and family, then you have strength enough within yourself to show your support for them during their time in need.

To the Weaklings and the Self Absorbed: Grow a set and Step Up for your Friends and Family. They will Thank You for it some day. And Hell, you'll discover some things about yourself along the way.