Guest guest Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 Thanks for this...I often read obituaries and biographies and tune into interviews with those who've suffered to remember I'm not alone and keep my own suffering in perspective. It doesn't make the pain go away, but it's good to know you are human and nothing less, nothing more. One breath at time, Terry > > Hi folks > > I'm having a pretty bad day today - a void day - where I am being tormented by unbearable images and thoughts of my own child's mortality. Damn it. > > I choose to act in a positive way, and share Invictus with you, below. Of course, very, very famous poem, but most touching to me because the author had actually suffered (and not just imagined, like me) the loss of his own daughter, through " the bludgeonings of chance " , at the wee age of just 5. > > This inspires me for the bravery, and reminds me that whilst I cannot control what happens in life, absolutely no-one can else but me is responsible for the manner in which I live it. > > Read it one way and this is very depressing, which I am sorry for if that's the case. Try to read it the other way, which is inspiring (to me). > > Invictus is latin, for " unconquered " . > > x > > Out of the night that covers me, > Black as the Pit from pole to pole, > I thank whatever gods may be > For my unconquerable soul > > In the fell clutch of circumstance > I have not winced nor cried aloud. > Under the bludgeonings of chance > My head is bloody, but unbowed. > > Beyond this place of wrath and tears > Looms but the Horror of the shade, > And yet the menace of the years > Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. > > It matters not how strait the gate, > Nor how charged with punishments the scroll. > I am the master of my fate: > I am the captain of my soul. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 Hi ,I’m sorry to hear you’re having a bad day. I just wanted to say I have always had mixed feelings about this poem – I love the last two lines, I am the master of my fate:I am the captain of my soul. but I don’t like the stoicism of the middle verses. This was written in the late 19th centre when stoicism – and its cultural offshoots, such as showing no emotion, and keeping any suffering to yourself - was a popular movement in the UK – the famous ‘stiff upper lip’ of the British. I don’t think this is at all healthy, or realistic, or even possible, for most of us: In the fell clutch of circumstanceI have not winced nor cried aloud.Under the bludgeonings of chanceMy head is bloody, but unbowed.Beyond this place of wrath and tearsLooms but the Horror of the shade,And yet the menace of the yearsFinds, and shall find, me unafraid. It reminds me of the ‘man with no name’ in those old Clint Eastwood cowboy movies, who never winces or groans no matter how much he gets beaten or tortured. Not realistic. It is human to wince and cry, and to bow ones head, and to feel afraid. ... And we can treat ourselves kindly, and acknowledged our pain and our fear ... and rise again, and again, and again, even with our eyes full of tears and our noses full of snot and our bodies full of terror and our memories of having bowed our heads in defeat. This, to me, is the key to being ‘unconquered’. Hope this helps in some small way. All the best,Cheers, Russ www.actmindfully.com.auwww.thehappinesstrap.com From: ACT_for_the_Public [mailto:ACT_for_the_Public ] On Behalf Of oscar.robsonSent: Friday, 4 March 2011 10:02 AMTo: ACT_for_the_Public Subject: Unconquered Hi folksI'm having a pretty bad day today - a void day - where I am being tormented by unbearable images and thoughts of my own child's mortality. Damn it. I choose to act in a positive way, and share Invictus with you, below. Of course, very, very famous poem, but most touching to me because the author had actually suffered (and not just imagined, like me) the loss of his own daughter, through " the bludgeonings of chance " , at the wee age of just 5. This inspires me for the bravery, and reminds me that whilst I cannot control what happens in life, absolutely no-one can else but me is responsible for the manner in which I live it. Read it one way and this is very depressing, which I am sorry for if that's the case. Try to read it the other way, which is inspiring (to me).Invictus is latin, for " unconquered " . xOut of the night that covers me,Black as the Pit from pole to pole,I thank whatever gods may beFor my unconquerable soulIn the fell clutch of circumstanceI have not winced nor cried aloud.Under the bludgeonings of chanceMy head is bloody, but unbowed.Beyond this place of wrath and tearsLooms but the Horror of the shade,And yet the menace of the yearsFinds, and shall find, me unafraid.It matters not how strait the gate,Nor how charged with punishments the scroll.I am the master of my fate:I am the captain of my soul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 Hi RussThe middle verses are my favourites!!! But then I probably read it how I want to read it, and I can see what you mean.I just love the images it gives me: that for all the emotional battering that we receive, we can stagger back to our feet and put our head up. Makes me want to say "bring it on, life". For that reason, it will stay one of my favourites.I'm loving all the other poems too. They're crackers. xSubject: RE: UnconqueredTo: ACT_for_the_Public Date: Friday, 4 March, 2011, 0:25 Hi ,I’m sorry to hear you’re having a bad day. I just wanted to say I have always had mixed feelings about this poem – I love the last two lines, I am the master of my fate:I am the captain of my soul. but I don’t like the stoicism of the middle verses. This was written in the late 19th centre when stoicism – and its cultural offshoots, such as showing no emotion, and keeping any suffering to yourself - was a popular movement in the UK – the famous ‘stiff upper lip’ of the British. I don’t think this is at all healthy, or realistic, or even possible, for most of us: In the fell clutch of circumstanceI have not winced nor cried aloud.Under the bludgeonings of chanceMy head is bloody, but unbowed.Beyond this place of wrath and tearsLooms but the Horror of the shade,And yet the menace of the yearsFinds, and shall find, me unafraid. It reminds me of the ‘man with no name’ in those old Clint Eastwood cowboy movies, who never winces or groans no matter how much he gets beaten or tortured. Not realistic. It is human to wince and cry, and to bow ones head, and to feel afraid. ... And we can treat ourselves kindly, and acknowledged our pain and our fear ... and rise again, and again, and again, even with our eyes full of tears and our noses full of snot and our bodies full of terror and our memories of having bowed our heads in defeat. This, to me, is the key to being ‘unconquered’. Hope this helps in some small way. All the best,Cheers, Russ www.actmindfully.com.auwww.thehappinesstrap.com From: ACT_for_the_Public [mailto:ACT_for_the_Public ] On Behalf Of oscar.robsonSent: Friday, 4 March 2011 10:02 AMTo: ACT_for_the_Public Subject: Unconquered Hi folksI'm having a pretty bad day today - a void day - where I am being tormented by unbearable images and thoughts of my own child's mortality. Damn it. I choose to act in a positive way, and share Invictus with you, below. Of course, very, very famous poem, but most touching to me because the author had actually suffered (and not just imagined, like me) the loss of his own daughter, through "the bludgeonings of chance", at the wee age of just 5. This inspires me for the bravery, and reminds me that whilst I cannot control what happens in life, absolutely no-one can else but me is responsible for the manner in which I live it. Read it one way and this is very depressing, which I am sorry for if that's the case. Try to read it the other way, which is inspiring (to me).Invictus is latin, for "unconquered". xOut of the night that covers me,Black as the Pit from pole to pole,I thank whatever gods may beFor my unconquerable soulIn the fell clutch of circumstanceI have not winced nor cried aloud.Under the bludgeonings of chanceMy head is bloody, but unbowed.Beyond this place of wrath and tearsLooms but the Horror of the shade,And yet the menace of the yearsFinds, and shall find, me unafraid.It matters not how strait the gate,Nor how charged with punishments the scroll.I am the master of my fate:I am the captain of my soul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2011 Report Share Posted March 6, 2011 > > Hi Russ > > The middle verses are my favourites!!! But then > I probably read it how I want to read it, and > I can see what you mean. > > I just love the images it gives me: that for all > the emotional battering that we receive, we can > stagger back to our feet and put our head up. > Makes me want to say " bring it on, life " . (and maybe Russ if he is listening) - In a funny way, I wonder if these verses you like may be functioning differently for you than the literal words they contain. The literal words are about fighting life as a battle, fearing death, & repressing negative emotions. But if what you get out of the verse functions more like self-compassion and willing acceptance of even very painful experiences, then that's way different and much more like acceptance in ACT. I.e. if we stand with ourselves whether head up or head down, we get back not only ourselves but the world in all its glory too. Even when the world is most painful. - R. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2011 Report Share Posted March 6, 2011 I think that is how I read them, Randy. I strongly believe in the maxim that "whatever doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger" I think that is what Invictus says to me.If you can be battered and bruised by life, and still keep going, isn't that just amazing? Almost every person on this list has a story where they've faced many demons, and I am genuinely moved by how they stick at it.I was reading some of Haakon's posts over recent months and am amazed by how the guy won't quit. People on this forum have taken their negative experiences and transformed them into a powerful driving force. None of us on here will be beaten, will we?The British stiff upper lip has its problems, but anyone who knows something about what happened in the Blitz also knows about how all that negativity can also generate so much positive energy to move mountains. I fear more the opposite side of the spectrum, where people wallow in self-pity.Somewhere in the middle, there is an acknowledgement of our anxieties, but the grit and drive to harness all of our life experiences (the good and the bad) so that we can plough on. That's what I am looking for xSubject: Re: UnconqueredTo: ACT_for_the_Public Date: Sunday, 6 March, 2011, 13:07 > > Hi Russ > > The middle verses are my favourites!!! But then > I probably read it how I want to read it, and > I can see what you mean. > > I just love the images it gives me: that for all > the emotional battering that we receive, we can > stagger back to our feet and put our head up. > Makes me want to say "bring it on, life". (and maybe Russ if he is listening) - In a funny way, I wonder if these verses you like may be functioning differently for you than the literal words they contain. The literal words are about fighting life as a battle, fearing death, & repressing negative emotions. But if what you get out of the verse functions more like self-compassion and willing acceptance of even very painful experiences, then that's way different and much more like acceptance in ACT. I.e. if we stand with ourselves whether head up or head down, we get back not only ourselves but the world in all its glory too. Even when the world is most painful. - R. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 Yeah, I’m cool with that. Many ways to interpret a poem. Obviously this resonates strongly with some folks. Just didn’t want anyone to think that ACT and stoicism are the same, or that there’s any shame in crying out our bowing one’s head. All the best,Cheers, Russ www.actmindfully.com.auwww.thehappinesstrap.com From: ACT_for_the_Public [mailto:ACT_for_the_Public ] On Behalf Of RandySent: Monday, 7 March 2011 12:07 AMTo: ACT_for_the_Public Subject: Re: Unconquered >> Hi Russ> > The middle verses are my favourites!!! But then > I probably read it how I want to read it, and > I can see what you mean.> > I just love the images it gives me: that for all > the emotional battering that we receive, we can > stagger back to our feet and put our head up. > Makes me want to say " bring it on, life " . (and maybe Russ if he is listening) -In a funny way, I wonder if these verses you like may be functioning differently for you than the literal words they contain.The literal words are about fighting life as abattle, fearing death, & repressing negativeemotions. But if what you get out of the verse functions more like self-compassion and willing acceptance of even very painful experiences, then that's way different and much more like acceptance in ACT. I.e. if we stand with ourselves whether head up or head down, we get back not only ourselvesbut the world in all its glory too. Even when the world is most painful.- R. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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