Thursday, July 17, 2008
Strength.
i suppose when the word strength is mentioned, the image of a guy working out in the gym is almost immediately formed in our minds. many people seem to relate strength to how tight their six packs are, or how defined their biceps are. (sound familiar?)
for me, strength is definitely something that can and will be developed through the activities and events in our lives. yes, physical strength is one component but i think REAL strength comes from within.
strength to me is the ability to take setbacks and get back up, the ability to push yourselves beyond your limits and achieve your goal. i think, by now, you'll probably be thinking i'm talking rubbish, and if you don't well, GOOD JOB! (in hancock style! LOL!)
i shall stop boring you with what i think and actually prove it! hahaha. okay, so i was in canoeing in secondary school. if you know me or have seen me before, you'll know that i don't exactly have the built for a canoeist. so enough of an intro, here's the story!
when i started in sec 1, i was probably among the smallest few in the team. determined to win in the competition, i trained REALLY hard and frequently. just thinking of my training schedule still scares me. not a single day would pass without my muscles aching. but, with the goal in mind, i continued to train hard, in hopes for success.
funny how something so tiring can appear so calm in a photograph.
just like how a rainbow is symbolic of a promise, my trainings indeed reaped its rewards. the first year alone, i managed to win several competitions, and get selected to join the national squad. i was the youngest there, and the slowest too. however, i really trained the hardest i knew how.
maybe a little too hard, as i incurred an injury to my lower back, which still hurts till this very day. that aside, i believe you can see how a weak girl who had no physical stature for such sports can actually acquire the strength to excel in it through training.
& the hardwork will be recognised forever, as it still hangs on the wall of temasek secondary school. all that said, when i look back, its not the recognition or medals that i remember. what i keep close to my heart is knowing for a fact that i am strong, and i will determine how strong i can be.
strength definitely can be acquired, and its inward built. so whatever situation you're going through, don't let it crush you. decide to take ownership of it, and be strong. train up your stamina and endurance, and rewards will be on the way.
this applies not just in the area of physical strength, but in emotional and mental strength as well. for those stories, if you're really interested, come ask me.
so let's BE STRONG!
bye!
1:24 AM;
christine was here