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I’m Still Standing! I’m Still Strong!

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Written by Karen D. Swim

“It don’t matter what you tried to do, you couldn’t destroy me! I’m still standing! I’m still strong! And I always will be. “– Antwone Fisher, 2002

I saw Antwone Fisher in 2002, when it was first released. I was drawn to the story line about a young man who enlists in the Navy, and is helped by a Naval psychiatrist to finally confront the demons of his past. It was a powerful movie that dealt with family, friendship and finding inner peace.  In one particularly moving scene the main character, Antwone Fisher (played by Derek Luke) spoke the lines above. When I heard them something awakened in my own heart, as these words seemed to echo in my spirit. At the time I was facing no particular challenge but I tucked the words away knowing that somehow they belonged to me.

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Over the years, these lines have become my personal mantra when facing adversity.  I sometimes modify it to “I’m still standing. I”m still here,” but every iteration strengthens me and renews my determination to fight through the obstacles. As I speak them out loud, they seem to plant my feet on solid ground and enclose me in an impenetrable fortress.  Though life may swirl around me I am reminded that I am indeed still standing.

I thought of this line this week as I received word from friends in Texas in the wake of Hurricane Ike.   Friends like Robert Hruzek and Mrs. MZM who thankfully made it through the storm.  As reports and pictures came in, I was glad that they too were still standing, all the more poignant as in so many instances the Hurricane had leveled so many homes.

Life may have dealt you a few setbacks but you are still standing. Your legs may shake from the effort but as long as you can proclaim that you are standing there is hope. I have been painfully aware in my own life that often it is not the movement that matters but the ability to simply stand. To stand in the face of adversity, to stand when everything seems to conspire to knock you down, to stand when the ground shakes and the skies rumble, to stand when then the torrential rains beat at your door, to stand when others are pushing you to move.

Today as I face the business and personal challenges in my own life, I am so very thankful to report that I’m still standing. I’m still strong. And I always will be.

Do you have a favorite line from a movie or book that gives you strength or uplifts your spirit? Share your favorites in the comment box below. All of your comments are welcome.

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Comments

  1. So often I have been convinced that I inspired a sermon as I squirmed and silently cried “ouch” but this time I will know it. 🙂 Bless you Rev. Williams!

  2. That was Ephesians Chap 6 not Galations. This will be the name of my sermon this week I’M STILL STANDING, but by the Grace of GOD!

  3. Hi Karen, when my daughter faced cancer, it was very hard on me. The words of the Psalmist come to mind when I face trials myself or when one of my family does.

    Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
    I will fear no evil
    For Thou art with me…

    Robyn McMasters last blog post..Don’t fear the pauses!

  4. I did do NaNo, and I finished :-). Very cool experience. And very intense but a great kick-in-the-pants. I am revising my draft from that.

    I haven’t decided yet if I will do it again in November as I have family coming in from out of the country. Can’t very well hole up while they are around. 🙂

    Stock up on goodies to reward yourself with, have daily word goals, have fun…you’ll do super!

    Pink Inks last blog post..High School Love

  5. My favourite lines all come from the LOTR trilogy.

    “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”

    “None of us should wander alone.”

    “We are all afraid…. But to let that fear drive us to destroy what hope we have…that is madness.”

    “Even the smallest person can change the course of the future. ”

    “Even the very wise cannot see all ends.”

    “It’s a dangerous business…going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

    stephs last blog post..Friday Focus

  6. Karen, it’s probably because I included a link. I think comment luv links count as one, so if your readers include one more it’ll go into the spam folder… unless you increase the limit. I’ve got mine set at 3 links which seems to be okay – though I’m lucky, I don’t get too much beyond the bonkers stuff that goes straight into the akismet bin anyway.

    Joanna Youngs last blog post..Can’t Get To Vegas? Come and Expo Here

  7. Evelyn, I love it! I haven’t seen Kung Fu Panda but I like that line! Funny story, in Sling Blade, Billy Bob Thornton makes this grunting noise. I used to mimic it and just fall into hysterics. My husband thought I had lost my mind. To this day whenever I do that noise even alone it just cracks me up! LOL

  8. I don’t have a favorite quote from a movie that has empowered or inspired me in the way you’ve described with yours. I can only remember very corny ones like “Call me Bond. James Bond”, “May the Force be with You” and from Kung Fu Panda “there is no charge for awesomeness”.

    Evelyn Lims last blog post..Attract Our Travel Dreams

  9. Duran Duran brings back sweet, sweet memories! Oooh, I like that Star Wars Line. While it has nothing to do with the topic I also like “They’re baaaaccck” from Poltergeist. I know its so old but I still get a kick out of saying it. Sir Elton rocks it! Oh yea, love it! 🙂

  10. Hi Joanna! Yippee, found your comment! Thanks for letting me know and thanks very much for the compliment. 🙂

  11. Hi Pink (Jewell)! I love your blog, it’s so happy! 🙂 That is a good line and that was a good movie. Arrrgh, yes the inner critic, we should take Friar’s line and nuke the inner critic! Hey, I noticed you did NaNoWriMo last year, how did that go for you? I’m participating this year for the first time.

  12. There’s a line in a relatively unknown 80s song that goes, “Use your intuitive play, ’cause maybe we have more play time than money.” The song is “Re-election Day” by the band Arcadia. (Trivia: Arcadia is three members from Duran Duran).

    Another one is from Star Wars, “I have a bad feeling about this.” Whenever a character says this line, trouble ensues, but they always come out still standing.

    Finally, Sir Elton John. Title of the song: Still Standing.

    “Don’t you know I’m still standing better than I ever did
    Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid”

    Gotta love it!

  13. Hi E! Life does run in cycles. This time I am challenged but in great spirits, which is a good combination. It’s funny I have even gotten anonymous text messages this week with uplifting messages that are right on target. 🙂 Warm bath, good book, sounds heavenly. I have had to do cool baths this week because of my ITB flare-up. You’d think I’d stop running, but nope! 🙂

  14. Yay! I found you! I never remember to check the spam folder so thank you. I don’t know why you ended up there, very strange! I have not heard of it but I think I will love it! One of my favorite JJL themes was the movie theme, it was such fun!

  16. My favorite line: “I’m not afraid of you!”

    A quote from James and the Giant Peach, spoken by James, who confronts the deadly rhino

    Something I have to say every day to my inner critic as I try to write my Great American novel. 🙂

    Love this post.

    Pink Inks last blog post..High School Love

  17. Don’t you worry Karen, that’s what friends are for! It’s always something isn’t it?

    Usually things run in cycles, up then down. It’s like that for everyone and everything I guess.

    Take care and have a good weekend. Maybe you need a warm bath and a good book?

  18. Hi Michelle!! Michelle, that is a beautiful and inspiring passage. This may be a good read for the weekend. I am so glad that you shared it. It is wonderful to hear from you and thank you for the inspiration! 🙂

  19. Robert, that is also one of my favorite scriptures having done all to stand, stand therefore! I still remember a rousing sermon on Galatians from geez more than 10 years ago that remains as powerful today. Still have it on tape, actual tape not CD. 🙂 I am sure that is why I like the movie line so much too!

  20. Friar, doesn’t sound stupid at all, I like it! Nuke it!!! Whoo hoo! Oh yea, taking that one into the weekend. Thanks Friar! 🙂

  21. Ulla, I am so glad that you like it. I love your visual too! Even more powerful to know that you are not standing alone!

  22. Karen, in times like these, a line the Apostle Paul wrote in the Book of Galatians from the Bible run through my mind:

    “… and having done all, to stand.”

    One can prepare as much as possible, but sometimes the only thing left is to… stand.

  23. Hi Karen,

    What a lovely and inspiring post, yes I am still standing! One of my favourite quotes (actually it may be an excerpt) is from The Alchemist” by Paolo Coelho:

    “My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer,” the boy told the alchemist one night as they looked up at the moonless sky.

    “Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity.”

    “Every second of the search is an encounter with God,” the boy told his heart. “When I have been truly searching for my treasure, every day has been luminous, because I’ve known that every hour was a part of the dream that I would find it. When I have been truly searching for my treasure, I’ve discovered things along the way that I never would have seen had I not had the courage to try things that seemed impossible for a shepherd to achieve.”

    This quote inspires me to be courageous and fearless everyday.

    Thanks for the inspiration Karen!

  24. HAHAH! As soon as I read this post, I KNEW Brett would mention Fight Club!

    As for me, okay, this might be a bit off-topic, but there’s a line from Aliens 3 that stuck with me:

    “Nuke it from orbit from the Mother Ship. That’s the only way to make sure”.

    Sounds stupid. Though, one car argue, it does give a valid Life Lesson.

    When you’re presented with a problem, give it your full effort. Hit it with everything you have, and remove any lingering doubts that your solution wasn’t 100% complete. 😉

    Friars last blog post..Things I am Ungrateful For.

  26. “I’m still standing!” – I think I make that my favourite line. Just now I am visualizing a tree, standing against all kinds of weather, storm, hail, heavy rain. “I am still standing!”. I really like it!

  27. Brett, every time I hear a mention about Fight Club, I think of you! 🙂 I love that line from Shawshank, that is definitely one that has me thinking this morning. It says it all doesn’t it? Thanks Brett, my kilted wonder friend – can, will, believe!

  28. Of course for me it would have to be from Fight Club, and the inspiration for not only my blog but the path I walk today.

    “I’m keeping your licence. I’m going to check in on you. I know where you live. If you’re not on your way to becoming a veterinarian in 6 weeks you will be dead. Now run on home.”

    Of course, I don’t want to be a vet, but this works for anyone. If you’re not doing what you want to do right now, get busy doing it.

    Or another one – from Shawshank Redemption, “get busy living, or get busy dying”. That one always makes me think, and gets me moving.

    Great post Karen!

    -Brett

    Brett Legrees last blog post..so you’ve got yourself a gmail account – now what? backup!