I bought this poster several years ago during the initial phase of my divorce, and it has brought me comfort as I have learned to adapt and grow the kind of life that I wanted. Kev made the gold star years ago for Christmas, and it’s found a place on this frame. I’ve returned to this message for inspiration during the last two months of winter in a pandemic, which could be described as a “comprehensive capstone of every trial I thought I had worked through, circled back into one excruciating grand finale.”

In the depth of winter I finally learned that within me lay an invincible summer sm.jpg

It’s hard to tell if I’m on the other side, but it really doesn’t matter.
I’m developing a practice of patience and compassion for myself, and for the people in my life.
I move forward with intentions to be at peace in my mind and body, in a way that is not contingent on the world being gracious to me. Albert Camus sums it up very well:

“My dear,

In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible Love.

In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible Smile.

In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible Calm.

I realized, through it all, that…

In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible Summer.

And that makes me happy.

For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me,
there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back."

-Albert Camus

Newton’s Third Law states that when one body exerts a force on a second body, the second body simultaneously exerts a force equal in magnitude and opposite in direction on the first body.

I relish in the image of pushing back,
because there was a time when I didn’t think I had the strength to fight.

The truth I am learning is that I have always had everything I needed inside of myself.

Part of my journey has involved a process of discovering my own voice and untangling the stories that were woven around me to hide to my autonomy.
It’s an honor to grow from that place.

If I can uncover this, I have every confidence that you can discover this invincible summer for yourself.

- Andrea