Larry, this is superbly inspiring and relatable. Its really well written as always and reading it aloud makes it even better, it's really smooth With a great layout.

1: This is a fantastic opening and one I can really relate to, I have been at rock bottom, faced utter despair but like you I refused to give in and because of that I became stronger as a person. I think the hardest thing is to be at that place and not give in even when we're holding on by a fraying thread.

2: This is excellent and I feel myself nodding along because like you say it isn't true that we grow stronger from our weaknesses but we learn to live with them and deal with them, I guess and whilst dealing with those hardships we don't have to concentrate on anything else until we have to but whilst dealing with these usually good comes along. Love the imagery here.

3: This was my favourite stanza. Yes, terrible thing s happen to many of us and we all have our own ways of dealing with them, some better than others. We have to mourn to be able to move on within life but sometimes it can prove difficult. I love the last lines and the image it portrays because we have to reach new heights once we are down in the dumps to be able to survive.. No where's this sacred path of recovery you talk of?

4: What I got from this is we all have to carry on living even when we don't know the path our future will hold and even if we did, would we be completely happy with it? Probably not.

Fantastic, Em

Larry,

I think Em has broken down this piece well enough for me not to bother writing the same things. I will say, however, that this seems to be a very poignant write for the times in general - not just from the writer's personal point.
I hope, sincerely, that humanity can grow around the dreadful scars that it has inflicted upon itself and find a way to move forward in the end. It seems to me that this would be a good time to start moving. I think your last stanza sums up how that might be achieved nicely.

A very good write, Larry and one that will receive my nomination later.

All the best,

Ben

Larry, this is excellent! I know a lot of us can relate about being at the bottom and having to figure out whether to go on or just end it. I really loved how you described healing and how we do and not always heal stronger but learn to deal with it. Learning to go on and picking a path to do that, one of life's difficult decisions. Well done-

Larry, congratulations on your front page win! Well done!

Well done Larry on your win. A lovely unique write.

Well worthy win Larry :)

Thanks to all for your congrats.