*I'm A Survivor* and I don't sing backup for Destiny's Child

For some dumb reason, people in this world believe that the strong are especially gifted in their ability to be strong in a crisis, manage their own lives, and help others, no matter what happens. This is utter nonsense and a complete fallacy in the civilized world. Rubbish, I say..........

Most of the people whom I have associated with in my life, people who are my friends, co-workers and even loved ones would characterize me as being a strong woman, almost on the level of Wonder Woman. They say 'tough as nails', able to handle and resolve many issues and problems that would leave others totally in the dark. They would also say that I am someone who is not a quitter when confronted with difficulties. You must also equate into this picture that I am a Registered Nurse who has seen people at their very worst, cared for them when they were very sick, or handled their deaths, all the while supporting the family through their loss. The job I have now is not for the faint of heart either. I work with adolescents in a psychiatric facility, and I see neglect, abuse, anger, incest, rape and abandonment. When families come in for visitation, I have to be professional and treat them as my 'other' patient, regardless of their issues or lifestyle. Most of our society turn their eyes, ears and minds away from having to see and hear when dealing with these people. I see children who have attempted suicide, children who have been abandoned, who cut themselves with razors, and children who escape from this with a dependence on drugs or alcohol. You have to admit that it takes one tough broad to resolve the problems of these types of individuals.

My question is, what happens when the strength dissolves, like an Alka Seltzer tablet in a glass of water? What can I do when there simply seems to be no answers, nor just resolutions to these problems, life situations, stressors? Who can one turn to for the help, the shoulder to cry on, the guidance, and most of all, the strength?

Have you ever heard the expression "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger"? or "God doesn't give you anything you cannot handle". I wonder how God determines who should be tested with situations of stress, sometimes unbearable in certain situations? Why would God want some of us to suffer so harshly? Don't you think he should at least make some of those strong people weaker, at least for some time, so that they can be spared, even for awhile, from those life situations which become next to impossible to bear? Have you not ever heard of someone with great strength claim that they are at the end of their rope? Interesting, huh?

I am not currently 'at the end of my rope' nor am I unhappy, sad, depressed, angry or stressed. Currently, my life is very fulfilled and I have nothing to really complain about. Sometimes, I just think about these things, and I wonder why....................