WHAT DOES 'STRENGTH' MEAN TO YOU? - A THOUGHT COMPILATION FROM SELECTED WRITERS
'Strength' is an interesting word - both literal and metaphorical. Visible and invisible. Physical and mental. A skill, a talent, a god-given gift and sometimes, a curse when you are the only one expected to shoulder certain burdens.
I wondered what other writers thought of it.
"In 500 words or less, what does 'strength' mean to you?" I asked.
And here are their responses.
Young olive ridley hatchlings were crawling ahead towards the raging water and an uncertain future. Leaving the comfort of the egg and the warmth the land provides, they are moving en masse towards the wide, chilly, mysterious marine world, which does not seem to be in a mood to accept them. Even though their inborn senses urge them to go towards water, there are a few obstacles that they have to overcome on their elemental journey.
It's tiring for these tiny creatures to wriggle with their small flippers and drag the heavy shells on their back over the beach to reach nearby water. Driven by their instincts, they all seem to be aware that living on land can harm them, as predators are roaming around in large numbers, some with wings and some with legs. Even if there is a risk of dehydration or getting trapped in plastic waste, they know somehow that the best way to survive is to move forward towards the Sea.
The waves from the Sea test them, and the power of the waves topple or push these hatchlings back. After a lot of struggle, the toppled-over turtles manage to get back on their flippers and continue to advance, only to meet another wave that treats the hatchlings like the previous one. There are a lucky few who might be able to get their bearings right and be near the wave at the right point, which gives them the ability to float. Otherwise, the practice of getting thrown back and then crawling forward continues for a while. These small creatures, without any guidance, simply followed their instincts to face the challenges ahead of them to attain their primary objective and gave me a fresher perspective on what 'strength' means. Their imprint on the beach might have washed away by the successive waves, but their impression on my mind remains forever.
Strength is generally considered measurable, like how much weight you can lift, how many people follow you, how long you can endure pain, etc. What if there is a kind of strength that is not perceivable. Many out there go through struggles that they may never convey to others in fear of being treated as an outsider. Sadness, despair, anger, insecurity, and many other feelings hit our mind and body like waves from the Sea. The pressure of approval is high. There is strength inside each one who wakes up and persists even while facing setbacks.
What would be going in the mind of a turtle hatchling when it crawls towards the waves? It may have decided to face one wave at a time or considered that it was okay to fail.
Maybe its strength may be generated from being present in that moment.
By Nishand Venugopal
On Instagram as @nishandvenugopal
***
Her Inner Strength
She stood with eyes so full of pain,
Her heart a storm, her soul in strain,
A life within, a spark so bright,
But shadows crept in through the night.
She held her dreams, her hopes so high,
But Love had lied, and she could only sigh.
He promised worlds, a future sweet,
But left her broken, lost in deceit.
Her first child, a fleeting breath,
A love now caught in silent death.
She let it go, her heart did weep,
For what was lost, for what she'd keep.
The world would judge, and whispers fly,
But they don't see the strength behind her sigh.
For in the silence, in the grief,
She found her power, her own belief.
No longer bound by shattered trust,
She rose again, from pain to dust.
A woman's heart, though bruised and torn,
Is a force unbroken, reborn, reborn.
With every tear and every scar,
She learned that she's her shining star.
Through loss, through Love, through dark deceit,
She walks her path, no matter how steep.
For strength is more than what we hold,
It's found in letting go, being bold.
She let him go, she let it be,
And found her soul, forever free.
By Subhashini R
On Instagram as @myquirkywritingproject
Editor's Note:
I want to thank all the writers who responded to this prompt. I loved reading your interpretations, and I'm sure the readers will, too.
For other writers looking for prompts, stay tuned to "Storytelling with Shweta" on Instagram, where I post writing tips, book recommendations and more for aspiring writers or those looking to make the space for writing in their lives. The next writing call will be out in the second week of April 2025. So do stay tuned.
Till then, keep writing!
Storyteller-in-chief, Inkspire.
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