Sometimes Life’s a Beach and You’re the Ball!
Last year summer seemed to have flown by much faster than previous years. The weather was extremely hot most days, almost unbearable, so many of us headed for the beach or swimming pools trying to keep cool. While playing with my grandsons Liam and Nathan I remembered one of my favorite games as a child, perhaps you have as well. It’s the “push the beach ball under the water” game. If you have never heard of this game, here’s all that you will need, 1 beach ball and lots of hot air!
As a child I never grew tired of this game. I would push the beach ball over and over into the water trying my very best to push it completely under. It always popped right back up no matter how hard I tried to keep it under!
Life…
Life from time to time plays this game with us, using people instead of a ball. The problem is sometimes we become the ball. Can you see where I’m going with this? You guessed it; we are the ball and perhaps a friend, co-worker, boss or even a family member try to push us down and under. If you have been on planet earth for any time you know there are people who have made a game of this! No, they are no longer children nor are they playing with a beach ball. They will do and say anything in order to attempt to ruin someone’s life and all of this energy is spent just so they can feel better about themselves. Unfortunately the hole of inadequacy is so deep that they become obsessed and will go to any lengths in their attacks. I have finally come to the conclusion that these folks are hell bent on lifting themselves up by sacrificing relationships, confidences and misusing the power they have been given. Sadly, they are unknowingly harming themselves. Sooner or later they will be found out and perhaps those who sat on the sidelines in order to observe so that they wouldn’t be attacked will no longer accept this behavior. At least that’s the dream!
What it feels like…
I’m reminded of the phrase, “Don’t be a back stabber.” As I pondered this, I thought of occasions where someone gets ”heart stabbed.” Having suffered from both, at least the person who stabs you in the heart, as brutal as that can be, at least you know where you stand. However, the back stabber is focused, they will lie at the drop of a hat, demean, and are control freaks who will smile to your face, all the while planning your demise. I have come to the conclusion that these very insecure individuals, lovers of self, they takers and not givers, and only truly happy while planning to push someone else down.
The awesome truth is that good people like beach balls may go down but will always bounce right back up again. Of course, it is always easier when we have gone through a trial to find out our strengths. They, on the other hand believe that when they get you out of the picture they will be much happier. The sad fact is they will only be happy when they find their next victim…
Moving on…
We move on, while they, unless they come to themselves will never be happy. There will always be someone smarter, richer, better looking, kinder, and taller than they are. This is why we should not compare ourselves to others. Bullies can’t bear this fact of life and it drives them to be even more insecure, becoming a vicious cycle for them. In the end while it may have been a somewhat traumatic experience for us, we win! I say traumatic because we would never treat anyone the way we were treated, so we are unable to comprehend that kind of behaviour. Ultimately, we win by remaining who we are! Don’t let other people change who you are, and as Shakespeare wrote, “To thine own self be true.”
Sad but true
This can happen to you
If it does
Be true to you
You will see …
What as meant to harm you
Just made you stronger and you will succeed
You’ll make a difference to those around you
And know this…
The world needs many more just like you!
Diane Broos
Having said that I believe Dr. Seuss said it best:
“And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent indeed.)
Some days all it takes is putting one foot in front of the other, getting through one minute at a time. When you add up the minutes, they become an hour, when you add up the hours, they become a day! Guess what, you made it through another day!
Just keep on keeping on no matter how impossible it may seem, there’s an escape route out in front of you!
Leave a Reply