Notes By The Wayside #23 – You Don't Have to Flinch

Not every blow needs to be dodged.

Not every feeling needs to be fixed.

Not every moment needs to be softened.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is nothing—just stand still and let it hit.

Let the criticism land.

Let the fear rise.

Let the silence stretch longer than it’s comfortable.

You’ll find it doesn’t break you.

You’ll find you’re still there when it passes.

You’ll find you didn’t need to flinch.

Men waste so much effort trying to avoid what they could have simply endured.

But you—

You can stand where you are.

Unmoved.

Upright.