Sometimes, I am afraid that I am not "caring" enough. I'm always just zoned out thinking about so much, not realizing I should be doing things for others. To me, vulnerability is your weak point. It's what can destroy your ego. I struggle with vulnerability because I believe I have a little bit of an ego. Well, I think everyone does, but some people just don't have big ones. Every time I'm faced with something that I don't think I can overcome, I tell myself that other individuals have overcome crazier challenges with disabilities, and it helps me focus.
My thoughts about vulnerability have certanly changed. I used to think of it as a negative. However, now I realize it is just the willingness to 'do life'. This quote from Theodore Roosevelt's speech Citizenship In A Republic, delivered at the Sorbonne (1910)defines the 'essence' of vulnerabilty:
ReplyDeleteThe Man in the Arena
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly;
who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming;
but who does actually strive to do the deeds;
who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause;
who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."
I'm constantly reminding myself that I can't wait until I'm perfect or bulletproof to walk into the arena because that's never going to happen. We just have to show up and let ourselves be seen - that's my definition of "daring greatly" or being vulnerable.
I agree that everyone has some sort of ego- whether they admit it or not. You're right that thinking of yourself in others' shoes can really put things into perspective. --Samantha
ReplyDeleteI agree with you as well, Casey. I believe everyone does have an ego and needs to start putting themselves in others' shoes.
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