I stumbled across a quote by Albert Camus just as the weather was starting to shy away from crisp fall headlong into brittle winter cold. “In the midst of winter, I found there was within me an invincible summer.” I’m not much of a philosopher, and I was never very good “literary devices” – the fancy term for the structure of a novel. I just know when I like something. This quote spoke to me on a much deeper level.
Face Value
Let’s look at the quote on face value. Those of you who’ve spent time in what I’ll call “true” winter climates where daylight is short, the wind catches your breath, temperatures plunge to zero and below, and the daily forecast is “snow-covered and slippery,” know how long winter can feel. If you’re someone who loves the outdoors – skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, or ice fishing – winter is just a different colored playground. For others, winter is a depressing, interminable time of year, a time for comfort foods, warm blankets, fireplaces, and hibernation. Winter is the season when counting days until spring becomes a sport, and it’s a joyful day when a garden catalog is in the mailbox.
Deeper Meaning
Then I stepped further into the quote. To me “In the midst of winter…” is a metaphor for a low point, a point where things seem hopeless, upsetting, frustrating, like there’s no end in sight. It’s the point where you say, “How much longer can this go on?”
“I found there was within me an invincible summer.” To me that’s saying deep inside I know that I am strong. I can rejuvenate and renew myself. It’s been there all along. I am unbreakable. WOW…that’s powerful!
So, if I were to write the quote it would say….
“Man, I’m at the end of my rope BUT I am strong and unbreakable.”
If you’re like me, sometimes seeing and saying the words don’t always do the trick. You hit a roadblock, and it feels like you just can’t see your way beyond it. You (I) need to realize it’s not the end of the road, but a pause. It’s then that you need to reflect and recognize all that you’ve accomplished. You’ve overcome many challenges by being unbreakable, by having tenacity, focus and downright gumption to muscle through. I really believe we all have that within us. We just need to pause long enough from our crazy lives and feel the strength inside.
I’d love to hear how you’re invincible. Comment below, and here’s wishing you an unbreakable, INVINCIBLE day!
