You Can do It
This was a favourite post that I wrote over two years ago and I think it bears repeating.
Oftentimes when tragedy, illness, accidents or any manner of difficult things happen, well-meaning people do their best to soften the blow. Believe me, I have been enormously grateful throughout my life for the tenderness, kindness and practical help of loved ones. I needed the encouragement and I benefitted from it. There is, however, another aspect to caring and I was reminded of this in a story Jack Kornfield described in his book, The Wise Heart.
During a time Jack was living in a forest monastery in Thailand and studying with the meditation master Ajahn Chah, he contracted malaria like most others who resided there. Although he had received medicine it was slow to take effect and he was in his little hut feverish and wretched.
His teacher, Ajah Chah came to his hut to check on him and the conversation went like this.
“Sick and feverish, huh?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied weakly.
“It’s painful all over, isn’t it?”
I nodded.
“‘Makes you feel sorry for yourself, doesn’t it?…makes you want to go home to see your Mother?’ He smiled and nodded. ‘Yes, it’s suffering, alright (he continued)…at least now we have good medicine’…he waited for a while, then he looked at me with the warmth of a kind grandfather.
‘You can bear it, you know. You can do it.’
And I felt that he was fully there with me, that he knew my pain from his own hard struggles. It took another day for the medicine to kick in, but his simple kindness made the situation bearable. His compassion gave me courage.”
I was touched by this description and it reminded me of an incident just before my surgery. A student in a workshop I was facilitating, who had been through a difficult cancer treatment, approached me and said something like, “I’m glad that it is you who got cancer, rather than someone else.”
“Please don’t be offended, she said,…I mean that you have the resources that will help you manage the cancer treatment. You can do it.” And then she kissed me on both cheeks.
At the time I laughed with her over the unusual way to express caring for someone who was diagnosed with cancer. In retrospect I understand the wisdom of her words. She had been through tough times herself and she recognized that we need strength to go through it. Her words stayed with me and they still give me courage. They remind me of my own strength and toughness, during difficult times.
Whenever others say the equivalent of “You can bear it, you know. You can do it;” their confidence and strength reinforce my own. I am most thankful for these tough angels in my life; they have made an enormous difference.
When we face the unexpected and the difficult, we all have resources to “bear it.” We need words of consolation, of course. We need all the help we can get. Yet never forget this important truth: as tough as it can be, you can do it. We all can.
NOTES
Note 1:) I am thinking of those people I know, and others whom I don’t know, today, who with their loved ones are facing devastating challenges. My heart is with you.
Note 2:) I said yes to my friend, and here I am, on a beautiful lake, following a wondrous and torrential rainstorm. And before too long the sun came out, the sky turned blue and the crystal clear lake reflected everything in sight. Magnificent moments.
Note 3:) Treasure every opportunity to enjoy the last days of summer as we move along into the even lovelier days of September. (my bias) A giant shout out to all of you, my dear readers. Many thanks, once again. See you next week. Warmly, Trudy
Ahhh September…what a beautiful month. My favourite…like others I know. Wink-wink-nudge-nudge.
Loved your blog Trudy, as always. Your words are so meaningful…
Love you. xo
“ You can do it” …..it feels like you are saying it to me. Of course, many of your readers feel this way. That’s your magic Trudy. Thanks. ❤️
Hello Trudy,
These past 4 weeks have been a struggle. Your blog is timely.
Looking back, we were hiding a secret which was not to be shared outside the family. Prayers were our comfort bringing peace in the midst of fear.
Today our spirits are joyful and thankful that miracles really do come true.
Many hugs and “I love you” everyone.
Tamara🤗🙏🏼❤️
Thank you Trudy for always showing me my strength when I forget it’s there… and for your boundless optimism and compassion.
Dear Sister – from the time you ‘started a library’ as a small child in our upstairs cubbyhole…it never ceases to amaze me how you find these authors and pick out ‘the pearls of wisdom’.
And even better, I’m always grateful that you share these treasures With all of us when you find them.
🥰 Love you – as September’s beautiful light flourishes all around us.
You have taught so many of us Trudy that ‘you can do it’ applies to us all if we open our hearts to the message. thank you always for sharing your wisdom, love Jan
Bless you Trudy just what I needed,retired early tonight,feeling very,dow,really sorry for myself..pain just gets so relentless sometime and,here you are.tellong me you can do it and also I get too.i shall have good sleep tonight and face it all again tomorrow knowing,of course,I can do it.thank you my friend.
Hi, Trood. Thinking of you. Jim