Limitations Life Leaves Behind

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
July 1926 - August 2004


Upon meeting a kindred spirit, it is always intriguing to hear how their personal life challenges made them who they are today.  These delightful individuals do not present as the 'wounded' , but as a work in progress.  They are striving  to learn from situations, and to over come the limitations life left behind.  They are strong and determined while at the same time vulnerable and willing to embrace the unknown.

There are those who amaze me in their ability to take life in stride without bitterness or sense of 'why me'.  They do not battle their way, but almost gently move through what appears before them remaining balanced and whole.  I admire these people greatly.

We can revert back to childhood remembering the red inked stamp of "Do Over" even though we were certain we had done our best.  There are days we feel like we have tried so hard and yet missed the mark.  Perhaps the point is we should not try so hard.  Maybe if we can stay balanced and pull creativity into the mix, we can discover adequate solutions without selling our souls.  This of course would require practice, flexibility, and willingness to change.

The people living an authentic life have challenges just as we do.  The difference is their focus.  They do not perceive everything as being a personal attack.  They focus on how best they can adapt to what life has presented.  They do not forget that they are entering a learning situation, and readily apply information they have learned from the past or leave themselves open to discover insight.

There is a difference between 'knowing' and 'understanding'.  Information needs to be applied, digested, inhaled, and remembered.  Being in the presence of understanding, makes knowledge come alive.


***Elisabeth Kubler-Ross was a Swiss American Psychiatrist who brought attention to the five stages of grieving and near death experiences in her excellent book entitled, "ON DEATH AND DYING".  Her research brought comfort and new insight into the transition of death for those crossing over and for those left behind.