Stand up eight (vent)

Fall down 7 times, stand up 8.
Sounds nice for an ideal world
Where confidence and will power is all you need.

Fall down once: it was an accident, a fluke.
I'm still good. Stand up twice.

Fall down twice: okay it must be me. Ill fix it.
I'm still good. Stand up three times.

Fall down three times: a habit is formed. Self confidence is lost.
What's wrong with me? Linger on the ground, then stand up four times.

Fall down four times: I've gotten used to it. Maybe I'm not supposed to stand. In fact, I'm more comfortable on the ground. I'm already on the floor, at least I know it can't get any worse.
Take a nap, sleep for years, get bored, stand up five times.

Fall down five: there is no escaping failure. Kick me while I'm down. I deserve this. Maybe I belong on the floor.
...
I refuse! I will stand dammit! I don't care who I have to stand on or who I have to put down! If I can't stand then nobody can. Bitterness sets in deep. Climb, crawl, scratch, bleed, stand up six.

Fall down six: I brought down as many as I could with me. It is now my mission to inflict as much pain as I receive. This is all there is. Is this what I have to look forward to? Perhaps I'll never stand again. Who would miss me? As I stare at all the others on the ground, ... I don't want to live like this. This is what it means to despair. But the pain of falling creates a fear of standing. The weight of my conscious is too heavy. I will make one las stand. If I fall again... It will be my last. Stand up seven times.

Fall down seven: I knew this day would come and I am at peace. Now I will enjoy me eternal rest. Years pass and I have forgotten how to stand. In limbo, numb, I am living in a constant state of apathy. Watching other stand annoys me. They should just stay down and face their fate like I have.

But then a hand reaches out. Beckons me to stand with them. How laughable. Fool! I have fallen to much. I know better. Still the hand beckons. Don't tell me to "stand up eight" unless you understand this despair.
"I have fallen more than 20 and I know some that have fallen over 100. Nobody can hope to stand alone. Trust me. The only reason why we fall is to know how to bring others up."

I look at the others beneath me .... Then I reach out my hand in faith. The same hand that pushed so many others down, now helping them back up. This is what it means to stand up eight.

Stand up.