Blooming Even So

From the Idiosyncradeck, Strength; from the Mixed Emotions deck, Empowered:

None but himself can alter his condition.

― James Allen

A flower grows in less than optimal conditions, dealing with extra heat, less water and limited root space. This Strength card is symbolic for all of us at some time in our life; tough circumstances require courage and resilience to deal with where we find ourselves. As Maya Angelou so eloquently put it, "You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them." Or as the tee shirts say, "Bloom where you're planted." Easy to say, hard to do on a daily basis. The Empowered card suggests becoming strong and confident when it comes to controlling our life and claiming our rights. Such a trait does not come without practice: by doing the things that cause our fear. The words of Eve Ensler describe this practice perfectly:

Cherish your solitude. Take trains by yourself to places you have never been. Sleep out alone under the stars. Learn how to drive a stick shift. Go so far away that you stop being afraid of not coming back. Say no when you don’t want to do something. Say yes if your instincts are strong, even if everyone around you disagrees. Decide whether you want to be liked or admired. Decide if fitting in is more important than finding out what you’re doing here.