Tough As Nails, Or Soft As Cotton
Posted: Thursday, February 18, 2010
by Susan Thom
There are times in this life when we need to toughen the mind and body, and get a job accomplished. We prepare and focus and at times, we must physically exert ourselves. I recently (like yesterday!) cleaned out a bedroom closet that had been shared by 3 at different times over the years. There were probably 10 garbage bags filled with unused games and toys. I was tough as nails to get everything cleaned up, and soft as cotton when I came across certain favorite toys of my kids. I kept them, of course!
My daughter played with horses and dolls and Polly pockets, and now she is waiting in the army to be deployed. I can't help wondering if my two oldest will run into each other on the battlefield. They need to be tough as nails, but I have a feeling when they are alone, wondering what war will be like, they're soft as cotton. At 22 and 24, mom is no longer an option-this is something they have to deal with in their own way.
They wanted to be independent and make their own decisions, so I guess I got across something, but did they really think I meant a war? Could we not start at McDonald's? Wal-Mart's? A & P? Pizza Hut? I'm quite sure I could deal with going to Wal-Mart and seeing my kids behind the counter, a battlefield is a little different. I have been known to be tough as nails in my life. I've dealt with many problems; emotional and physical, and I have felt like cotton as I cuddled with one or all of my little ones.
I guess we're all really a mixture of both. Some circumstances require every ounce of strength we have. We need to put our emotions aside, and let our strength guide us through. While holding our little grandchild, the emotions allow us to feel like soft and fuzzy cotton. When having a conversation with someone, we might need to be as soft as cotton in order to smooth over a precarious situation. We need to absorb the circumstances, and act with grace and dignity.
We want to land on the softness of our emotions, and not on the nails of anger and indecision. When someone is trying to take advantage of us, then we need to be that tough as nails scenarioWe deserve to be respected and treated well. Sometimes, we must demand others to treat us the way we truly deserve. If they refuse, we can leave, with the tough as nails attitude. If we have a friend who is laid up, and we bring them a plant and candy and teas, the side of us that resembles cotton, puffs up and does something nice for another.
There is tough as nails, soft as cotton, and a whole multitude of feelings in between. The best we can do is find our middle. That core of our soul that tells us what we should and shouldn't do. That tells us whether we are doing the right thing, or wrong. That allows us to know what is the best for all involved. That tells us when we should sprought our nails, or bathe in the cotton of a happy life. We know cotton won't protect us, but to live in a calm and soothing life, is better than not.
When other people and corporations, banks, schools, etc., are trying to take from us and leave us high and dry, we need to be tough as nails. Fight for our rights and take control of our own lives. We are deserving, and we must make sure we are served.
When our child is sick and has a fever, we are soft as cotton, trying to do everything we can to help. We know not to be hard as nails at such a time, and then act as soft as cotton when the family car is totaled, going around a curve at 60, in the rain!
We have to think about the way we are going to react to any given situation, and then do whatever our best is, and see it through, come what may. We are our own best protection, if we have the skills to be so. There are plenty of self help and anger and spiritual books to read to help you find out who you really are. Get rid of the garbage and the anger and be tough as nails when you need to, and soft as cotton when you can.
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)Good article Susan, it delivers a good message thanks for sharing.Please log in to respond to this comment.hi david,thanks for reading and commenting,my best,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Susan,Boy, you hit that one right on the head! (Head of the nail... get it?) I was touched by your insight, comforted by your softness, and cuddled by your heart. Thanks for being you!Please log in to respond to this comment.hi star,i got it:)i'm glad to hear you over on this side of the fence.i hope all is well.thanks for reading and commenting,my best to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
"The best we can do is find our middle" And you have found yours, dear Sue. Excellent article to encourage all of us to tough it out and land softly, even if uncertain. Thanks for being an inspiration!
Best regards,
AvisPlease log in to respond to this comment.hi avis,i hope all is well.i don't wonder that you left a message, i've been thinking about you.just wondering how you're doing.thanks for reading and stopping by to leave a message,my best,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Great article and it reminds me of my fond memories with my children. Thanks for sharing.Please log in to respond to this comment.hi linda,it's nice to remember happy times. hopefully, some still lie ahead.thanks for reading and commenting,my best,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Hi Sue, compassion and wisdom are a balance always. Great article!Please log in to respond to this comment.hi e,thanks.balance, for me, is something you learn how to do, then you practice all your life, and you end up with wisdom. how's that? :)have a good week, and thanks for stopping by, always a pleasure.my best,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Why does yesterday seem like minutes ago the older we get? And the memories SO vivid. Thanks for sharing this piece. I suspect it is time to clean closets again.Please log in to respond to this comment.hi marijo,there were a lot of memories in that closet. i saved a couple of favorites.it feels good to have it cleaned out though.thanks for reading and commenting,my best to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
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