Six Lessons Learned About Strength and Weakness

1. Cats may think they are tough, but they are delusional in thinking that they really do have 9 lives. One car, one sip of poison, or one bad jump out of a tree, bashing its nose on a branch is all it takes to make its human mamma cry. You are strong, little kitties. You are brave and independent, too. But in the midst of all these strong and lovable traits, you are still vulnerable and weak like every other living thing is sometimes.
2. Much like cats, a person's strengths and weakness are often one in the same. I've always been a believer in this philosophy within myself. I see it in those around me, too. It's a delicate line to walk in keeping these two opposites in check: like walking on a razor blade's edge. My heart reminds me of this personal truth frequently as I contemplate hatred, or love, a person's exterior appearance versus who they are in spirit, etc. Love always wins out in the end, as does coming to know the heart and soul of someone else.
3. Strength is choosing to look inward at the ugly in ourselves, learning from it, growing from it and becoming somehow better as a result. Weakness is refusing to recognize and own the truth of #2 -- choosing to stay on an ugly path --choosing to continue doing ugly things.
4. Strength is being able to stand up and say, "No, I will not take this anymore!" BUT, speaking out is only a strength, if it is specific about an action, or deed. It's like teetering on that razor's edge, careful to make certain that your heart doesn't allow a specific to generalize and spread. "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater," some might say, or "Judge the sin, not the sinner." Weakness would be disregarding the "BUT" part of this specific lesson.
5. Strength is being willing to recognize that we all fall short in items #2 through #4 sometimes, and not kicking ourselves when it happens. Weakness is choosing to cast aside this gift of choice we are blessed with and making the decision to face the world like a cat unconcerned about its mamma mourning the strong-willed, independent choices it made while jumping too high from the tree.
6. It's okay to be weak and cry about #1 though #5 sometimes. That's a strength comparable to dancing on a razor's edge.

L.O.V.E. = Live Our Values Everyday (Gizzy girl aka Chowdie Poof)

I am perfect in my weaknesses. (King LJ the cat)

Learn to dance on the edge of a razor (Stewie aka Ruin, Goddess of Oblivion)