Triumph of spirit

What is it about the human spirit that never gives up? I've been so fascinated by stories of utter impending doom where the resilient find a thin strand of hope to hang on to, refuse to give up and emerge unscathed to share their hope with the rest of us.

Yesterday, I finished reading the book 'Escape', by Carolyn Jessop, a woman who fled her polygamous abusive husband with 8 children (one of them with cancer, another a toddler) to start life afresh. Her insatiable appetite to learn, never say-die attitude and willingness to hope for something better, deeply moved me.

I watched an interview by Donna Eden, practitioner of energy medicine, who in her early years was so weak and depleted that western medicine practicing doctors told her there was nothing they could do, and she stumbled upon the healing energies of the body and is now not just living, but thriving, teaching and writing. (Her laughter and uplifting energy is highly infectious).

When I read 'Anne Frank's diary, a few years ago, a little jewish girl hiding from the nazis and exposed to human tortures that we can only shudder to hear about, believing, "Basically, people are good at heart", I thought that it was a testament to what good lies within each of us.

Then, there are everyday unsung heroes that we never hear about, who continue to defy odds to do what we as humans do best - Bear evidence to the triumph of our spirit.

Interestingly, inspite of injustices, poverty, bodily conditions, ever increasing diseases, depletion of our resources, (or atleast thats what we hear from our news media) we only keep growing in numbers as a human race. I believe its the indomitable human spirit, that can keep you alive and well and filled with love and hope - inspite of un-co-operating external circumstances. If there's one catch, its simple enough to get around. All you need to do is, want to want something and badly enough...And, its impossible not to find a way.