REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE NOT A TUMBLER

The last few days I dealt with set backs, obstacles and some very humbling experiences.

Something that often comes to mind in these moments is this little, supposed-to-be-encouraging quote “Keep up your head, princess, or your crown is falling”

Frankly I hate this quote. It summarises so much what is wrong with our perception of strength today.

Perhaps the obstacles we are stumbling over are there for a reason They might be asking if we are still on the right path. Perhaps the set backs are there simply to slow us down, reminding us that life is not a race to get as quickly as possible from A to B.

Perhaps sometimes we simply need to fall, so we can allow ourselves to rest and fully enjoy a soothing bath in our self pity, aware and with choice, fully feeling.

Nothing wrong with staying on the ground for a while when stumbling, taking a rest when we pushed too hard or in the wrong direction for too long. It is a possibility to really feel into what we need to experience and learn.

Otherwise we could ignore that important moment too easily, while rushing to get ourselves up immediately, putting our crown straight and pushing further. That is not strength, it is numbness.

You are not a tumbler. You are not supposed to get up immediately after falling. You can allow yourself to stay on the ground, watch the world from a different perspective for a while, rest, and come back up, when you are ready and resourced again to face whatever live throws at you

You are not a tumbler, you are a human being.

(Picture of the art installation De Berenkuil, Maastricht)