You Never Know When...

Styrka Girls

Growing up, there's always this assumption that your life will turn out just like you think it should.  There's never a doubt in your mind that all you have planned will turn out:  in order, as imagined, and perfect.  It's not until you hit 30 something that it begins to take a not-so-perfect shape of the life you only wished on your worst enemy.  At this point, the lessons from your father creep into your mind; the ones that you spent your early years trying to ignore. Nevertheless, you're here in the midst of disappointment and faced with the words of your dad,  "What's your alternative! Keep moving."  My father has been the constant in a life of bad choices and weak moves.  He's a strong man, soft heart, and safe harbor.  He's been the "show by example" -good and bad- kind of parent in ways that continue to help me endure. The difference being now than in my early years... I recognize it when I see it.

Endurance. Perseverance. The life-giving strength that is in every cell of my body.  Styrka.....Swedish for strength.  I cannot imagine my life without the styrka that runs through my veins via Blixt fortitude. Now through my thirties and into my forties, I have begun to collect my father's words of styrka to "bless" my sons. These iron clad lessons in life.  The beauty in these lessons?  Each of us will emulate it differently, manipulate it individually, produce it successfully for our own humbling conclusion.

My sisters, who have been my best friends and fellow survivors of Blixt fortitude, and I represent our father's strength in each our own mannerisms. We thrive on what makes our family tick, what makes our family rooted, what makes our core solid.  I believe all of this comes from the life lessons of a Swedish strong man.