Fortis in Arduis

Fortis in Arduis

Hi there

Thanks for popping in. I was listening to a book last night, and the latin phrase Fortis in Arduis came up. My O level Latin stretched to the translation: Strength in Adversity. Wow, I thought. How appropriate those 3 words are in the world right now. Today. Strength in Adversity, steadfastness in the face of Trouble.

Of course I know it’s all shocking. Of course I know it’s overwhelming and frightening. But whatever it is, IT IS WHAT IT IS. Once again, I can only speak for myself, but I have to accept IT for whatever IT is, and calm down.

I believe we’re a lot more resilient than we think we are. And maybe we need a crisis, even a global pandemic, to find out just how resilient we are.

I see it in my Dad. Talk about being a fighter in the face of adversity! He certainly kissed Death this summer, but he just does not give up trying. He doesn’t complain, even though his eyesight is failing him now, he just keeps doing whatever it is he needs to do to keep going. Quite remarkable.

When he was a lad, he belonged to the Rotax Boxing Club, in Park Royal, London. He tells me it was a tough club, run by hard men, an organisation which was trying to keep lads off the streets. I know my Dad had a good upbringing, he came from kind people, but the discipline from those days has certainly stuck with him all his life.

And my Mum. She had a hell of a life in the war in Germany, and post-war Germany. A hell of a life. Hard as nails now though. She won’t be beaten either.

I guess what I am trying to say is if it doesn’t kill you, it will make you stronger. Tough situations build strong people in the end.

Fortis in Arduis.

Stay safe and stay strong. This too shall pass.

Love and Hugs

Barb xxx

15 thoughts on “Fortis in Arduis

  1. Good blog, dogged determination I see in my Mum, she’s lost her eyesight in one eye now and not great in the other and she can no longer read a book. However, she doesn’t let anything worry her and, as long as she has her support system, just gets on with it. At 91 she’s seen and dealt with a lot. We’re still learning what we can cope with and I’m surprised what I’ve learnt already ! xx

  2. Very good blog.
    I’ve had some tough times in my life but strength and determination have seen me through. These are worrying times but as you say – it is as it is. We will get through it eventually.
    Keep your spirits up everyone, it is the season of joy and goodwill.
    Off to the gnome hunt now.
    Stay safe.

  3. Hello Barbara
    I cope by not listening, watching or reading anything, for or against, if I can help it. I just do what I need to do for myself and my family. It helps that all but one of my family think the same. The odd one out has done what he thinks is best for him. And that is fine. I hate all the accusations and nastiness aimed at people.
    Love
    Roz.xxx

  4. Everything all comes at once it seems. The day before my other half went into hospital for an angiogram after a stroke, 100 miles away my 94 yr old father went into hospital with bp over 200. Husband is doing well, Dad is still in hospital, Daughter drives down from West yorkshire 300 miles to get him some things, bend nurses ears about talking to him with his hearing aids in and just because he is deaf and blind he is perfectly all there. He also lives by himself and apart from a lovely lady popping in once a week and taking him shopping on a saturday, was coping well, has 2 freezers full of food, he is annoyingly independent. Then hospitals shut down, not allowing visitors in. To try to get any news has been an absolute nightmare, 4 days at one time without managing to get through to his ward. Today I have actually spoken to somebody so am feeling happier and there is a view to releasing him, hopefully with a care package, until he backs out of that, Groan, well we will cross that bridge when we get to it. Blow up beds at the ready.

  5. Know what you mean I’m sure each and every one of us has had to face up to and get through some really tough times these past 12 months or so but somehow or other we have managed it. Things not being ‘normal’ has certainly added to the stress and worry. The Shac Shac, travelling gently and being kind to oneself has been an absolute god send for me. You never know exactly what you are capable of until you have to confront it and remember you are not alone. Stay safe everyone xx

  6. I must say my mindfulness practice and crafting have certainly helped me this past year. Just living in the moment, breathing and acknowledging that I am part of the world where everyone is dealing with the same situation has helped me enormously.

  7. Barbara,
    Thank you and the 6 clarity bloggers for all your words of strength and hope. This afternoon my 84 year old husband was taken to hospital with an infection and possibly sepsis. We have tried to keep him at home but after a very difficult couple of days the nurses decided special care is needed. Of course no visits are allowed so my 2 daughters will be constantly calling the hospital for updates. We are hopeful he will be home soon. Thank you again for your words-we will get through this! Thanks also for the caring nurses and care workers who have suddenly arrived to help when needed. Now to bed for a very worried, sad and lonely dog and her owner.

  8. As you say Barbara it is what it is and yes we will come out the other end. My sister is also a fighter can hardly walk is totally house bound but still just gets on with things and whenever I feel a bit down I just have to think of her and tell myself to be more like her.

  9. Hi Barbara
    Great blog and very apt at the moment. My mum is not good at the moment and is likely to get worse. But she traveled 300 miles to see her daughter on her 60th birthday. On our way back stopped at a service station on M25 to get her some breakfast, whilst in the queue 2 workmen behind me not wearing masks and generally I would just leave it. But they were joking about having COVID and I just lost it with them. I pointed out my 89 year old mother and told them how irresponsible they were they took no notice but I felt better 🤣
    Love
    Ruth & Jackie xx

  10. Great blog.
    One of my favourite sayings at the moment is :- ‘You don’t know how strong you are until being strong is the only option you have.’
    I’ve had a tough time of it over the past couple of years ( in fact since 2016 really ) and can empathise with anyone going through health issues either with family members or themselves.
    Three cheers for Barbara and the SHAC SHAC I say. Certainly in my list of saviours.
    Take care all. X

  11. Hello Barb, a very strong blog post, makes a person sit up and that is so true. We can fight through what faces us and come out the other side. We do just have to look at what our parents lived through to realise if they can do it, then so can we. Dear Susan, I pray that your husband recovers, I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers. Take care and stay safe everyone. Bx

  12. I think most of us find that when a crisis occurs we go into coping mode, getting done what needs to be done. It is when the crisis is over & we have time to process what has happened that we sometimes begin to panic. What we need to remember is that 1)it has happened, 2)it has been sorted 3) nothing we do now will change what has passed.
    For those in our Clarity Family that have a crisis at the moment my thoughts are with you & hope that it will be soon over.
    One Day at a Time is the way forward xx

  13. Dear Barbara, So true what you’re saying here. Yes we,ve become more resilient. Maybe this was meant to happen to tell us how good we had it for a long time. We,ll appriciate every thing a lot more now.

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