Finding Strength in Adaptability
As many of you know already, the Beam +Bounce Party planned for this weekend has been postponed until further notice due to the coronavirus. For me, this has been just one of the many changes to my schedule in recent weeks. My parents also have had to put off their annual visit to see me, and other projects have had to be moved online instead of in person. These few inconveniences are hardly earth shattering and pale in comparison to what many people have had to experience during this time, but they can be disappointing nonetheless.
Recently, I’ve been reminded a lot of a few lines from a Ani Difranco song I loved in university:
“Buildings and bridges are made to bend in the wind.
To withstand the world, that’s what it takes.
All that steel and stone is no match for the air, my friend.
What doesn’t bend, breaks. What doesn’t bend, breaks…”
(Ani DiFranco, “Buildings and Bridges”)
To me, the song speaks about the need to have strength and flexibility coexist. For instance, I know that because I’ve worked hard to behave and do my job in a way I’m proud of, I might occasionally be quick to become frustrated when things are beyond my control and don’t go according to plan. But not leaving any room “to bend in the wind” is a sure way to let frustration grow into full on resentment in any situation. The resulting feeling of “brokenness” is exactly the opposite of what I’ve attempted to build up over time.
No matter how strict, disciplined, or well-planned we might want to be about anything from our diets and workout routines to relationships, it also takes a lot of strength to be someone who knows when to be adaptable and flexible. With all the changes and disruptions life is sure to throw our way, much better, then, to build keeping in mind that some bend is inevitable.
No matter what kinds of changes and monkey wrenches get thrown into the mix, I’m so thankful for the strength, support, and softness we have in our community. Building and bending, moving and shaking, and growing and learning are all better with you!
Keep moving!
xx,
Katie
在適應力中找尋力量
很多人應該都有聽說 2月22日Beam +Bounce 的派對，因為新型冠狀病毒的疫情確定延期，而這只是我最近幾周行事曆上多數的變動之一。我父母也被迫取消每年的來訪，其他的活動也從實體改成線上。這些變動和很多人現在的經歷比起來真的是什麼，但是難免的，多少有一絲令人失望的成分。
最近我一直想到大學時期很喜歡的一首歌裡的歌詞：
高樓與橋樑在風中是要能彎曲的
若要在世上屹立不搖，這是必須的
我的朋友，所有的鋼石都不是風的對手
若不隨風彎曲就會只剩殘骸，若不隨風彎曲就會只剩殘骸......
(Ani Difranco 的 Building and Bridges)
對我而言，這首歌談到力量與彈性是需要共存的。舉例來說，我相信這個觀念，因為我很認真地用會讓我驕傲的方式來經營我的事業，當事情超出我能控制的範圍或出現一些突發狀況時，我有時候會覺得挫折。但是如果不為「風中的彎曲」預留一些空間，在任何的情況下，挫折都很容易累積成怨恨，而這和我想要去的方向可說是天南地北。
不論我們多嚴格、多自律、或是多會計劃，不管是你的飲食、運動習慣到你的人際關係，知道什麼時候要有彈性、快速調整，也需要力量來執行的。在人生的道路上會遇到種種的改變與不如意，我們要知道有時候「彎曲」是不可避免的。
不論是什麼樣的改變、疑難雜症丟到我們的面前，真心感謝我們這個社群的堅強、溫柔、與互相支持。不論是建造還是彎曲、移動還是擺動、成長還是學習，都因為有你們的陪伴而更珍貴！
繼續前進！
愛你的 Katie
( Anna Liang 譯 )