Sometimes, being strong looks like this:

Other times, though, it looks like this:

But we seem to forget that survival is a special type of strength, especially in the face of adversity.

Friedrich Nietzsche once said, “To live is to suffer; to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.” and I’ve never understood the poignancy of that quote more than I do now.

Strength may be physical, but some of the greatest demonstration of it is psychological. Unfortunately, when you search, “strong” on Unsplash galleries, it doesn’t have many images outside that of well-sculpted shoulders.

Ironically, it’s a physical ailment that affected my arm and shoulder which has brought me here, writing this (that’s me, in the second photo – post-surgery at 4 a.m.) After all I’ve been through and the fact I’m still here to tell the tale, I wanted to share what I’d learned about strength.

• Strength is grit
• Strength is taking the rough with the smooth
• Strength is accepting your fate
• Strength is challenging it, too
• Strength is asking for help
• Strength is research
• Strength is determination
• Strength is divergent thinking
• Strength is strategy
• Strength is circumventing the obstacles
• Strength is logic and courage intertwined
• Strength is patience
• Strength is resilience
• Strength is taking a break
• Strength is finding peace in creative outlets
• Strength is supporting and being supportive
• Strength is saying hello
• Strength is also, sometimes, saying goodbye
• Strength is maintaining integrity
• Strength is kindness
• Strength is love
• Strength is survival and finding the meaning behind it all

As time goes on, I’m sure I’ll add to this list. But for now, I want you to consider this:

I may not be able to bench press my body weight or take impressive pictures of my abs, but behind every scar I wear is a story, and sharing them can build more strength and inspiration than anything.