Why

It's been said that "everything happens for a reason," and "there is always something positive that comes from negative experiences." When things happen in our lives beyond anything that we can control, far from any expectation that we have, and outside any possibility we ever wanted to entertain - how do we move on?

Are we as human beings really capable of resiliency, transcending horrific events and picking ourselves - our mixed up body/mind/soul pieces up off the floor and re-assembling ourselves into something that resembles what we were before the fall? Short answer - yes; well, sure (at least I know of people who seem to be doing it). Long answer... I think it really depends.

It must depend on our identities and how we choose to envision ourselves vis à via those who matter in our lives. As a mother I feel strongly, deeply, fully that my maternal core (albeit rocked by negative experiences) gets stronger, more capable, more powerful and far more something 'other' than I expected.

Is this so for all mothers? Could it be that it is not peculiar to maternal identity, but something about a core or central identity we as human beings adopt? Or, is there something particular or inherent or perhaps axiomatic to mothering that brings about this (should I call it an) ability?

When we are at our deepest, most saddened, and most at odds with our human experience, therein lies the possibility to connect closest with our spiritual selves, that 'thing' without thingness, that being without body or mind, that secular or religious soul. Simply - our core.