Ollie Lind Poetry

“No Pressure, no diamond.” This saying is attributed to a lady called Mary Case.

I have no idea who she may be, but her statement is very profound.

How many times have we found ourselves almost at the end of our tether. Life has dealt us blow after blow, yet we keep on. When the war is over we are still standing, bloodied but unbowed, wondering how we ever got through that.

When we look back on the dark times, it seems we drew on a hidden reservoir of strength and survived it.

I had an experience when I was a teenager I will share with you. I was at rock bottom. I won’t bore you with the details, but I was really down. My girl had broken off with me, I was alone in the fullest sense of the word. Desolation was my dearest friend.

It was a Saturday night and I was atop a tower in a park. It was about one hundred feet and suitable for my purpose. It was a clear, hot night and I remember looking out over the darkened trees and up to the starry night. I thought this was the last time I would see this.

I looked down at the blackness below. It was funny, I wasn’t afraid at all. Then I thought “What if I don’t die and I’m crippled forever?”
Then the thought struck me. What about all those people who are crippled, or disabled? They don’t give up. Why should I?

I drew a deep breath and sat down on the wooden platform, cross-legged and closed my eyes. I don’t know how long I sat there, but when I opened my eyes I felt a great sense of peace. Whatever crazy notion I had was gone.

I resolved never from that point in my life, to ever consider myself a victim. Not of anything or anyone. I would survive and make something of myself.

I have since lived a full life, had five wonderful kids and now do everything I can to be of service to others. Sure, like anyone, I have dreams, desires and visions for the future. But, at the back of my mind is the realization that, without the pressure of that night, when it all hung in the balance, I may not have had the life I have experienced thus far.

The next time you find yourself under excruciating pressure, please recognise you will survive and may well be stronger for it. I have a saying, “The finest steel is forged by the fiercest flame.”

I think you know what I mean.

Ollie

Tags: Back Of My Mind, Blackness, Crazy Notion, Dearest Friend, Deep Breath, desires, Desolation, Diamond, dreams, experience, experienced, Hidden Reservoir, Hot Night, Last Time, Mary Case, Realization, Rock Bottom, Saturday Night, service to others, Starry Night, Teenager, visions, Wooden Platform