Anyone who knows me knows that I am a HUGE Batman fan, from the comic books, through Adam West and on through Christian Bale to Ben Affleck (we will forget Val Kilmer and George Clooney).
Why do we fall Sir? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up – Alfred Pennyworth
As such I have been aware of the above quote for a while, and have always liked it. But, as with so many things in life, I don’t think I have truly seen it or sought to understand it on more than a superficial level.
Then randomly it was quoted to me as part of a wider discussion on another subject, and it really stuck in my head that time. So it has been, along with some other sources of motivation, in my subconscious for a while now.
The last couple of years have been a bit up and down for me, with some challenging moments and distractions. It seems that the quote has been popping into my conscious more than ever in that time.
I have been told many times that I am strong and that it is remarkable what I have been through and coped with. The quote finally gives me a response to those sentiments.
I am not strong, I am merely strong enough to continue to pick myself up again.
So for anyone reading this who may need some inspiration or hope right now, continue to fall, and continue to pick yourself back up.
For that little boy that fell and needed reassurance transformed himself into Batman.
We may not all be able to become crime fighting superheroes. But what we are is an inspiration to each other, and also we do not pick ourselves up alone. If we are truly lucky we will have some great friends who are there to help us get back up after our falls.
Pete Greensmith 