waiting versus the battle (and managing moments)

Soldier: This is the worst part. The calm before the battle.waiting momenst become-nothing

 

Fry: And then the battle is not so bad?

 

Soldier: Oh, right. I forgot about the battle

–          from a Futurama episode

 

So.

I chuckled when I read this.

And I am guilty of saying something similar <the calm before the battle part>.

 

One of my favorite quotes comes from a midshipman’s diary entry on Collingwood’s flagship before the battle of Trafalgar:

“… we await glory in silence. Oh, let the din of battle begin.”

 

Waiting can suck.

It can be uncomfortable.

It can be tense.

It can actually drive you a little crazy.

Oh.

Yeah.

Then there is the battle.

Oops.

Talk about being uncomfortable & tense.

 

I imagine I could suggest something wise here like ‘doing is better than not doing’ or even ‘Life is nothing without action’ … but I will not.

 

Instead I will say <after sagely pondering this philosophical question>

 

Parts are parts & pieces are pieces.

 

<that is my sage thought … sorry>

 

Aw.

Let me explain.

Prior to any actual moment … the moment you are within is simply a prelude to what is to come as well as past the actual moment is simply another moment that has arrived in its own time.

Say what?

The worst part is the calm before the battle.

The worst part is the battle itself.

The worst part is the aftermath of the battle.

But.

The best parts are also found within each of those moments.

 

Each moment is the best of times … and the worst of times.

 

Well.

At least you can find pieces and parts of both within every moment.

 

Best or worst?

Glass half full or half empty?

Optimist of pessimist?

 

Aw. Who cares?

All I can really suggest is that we can see the best and the worst of what lies within each of us in every moment associated with a battle … whether that ‘battle’ be within everyday life or a business situation or an athletic event or even a real battle.

Within those moments we are challenged to be the best we can be.

Our lives are often defined by these moments.

Ok.

Maybe not our lives but certainly our character.wait until i am no longer afraid

Character as in how we are seen … by others … and most importantly … by the person we see in the mirror.

I imagine my real point here <beyond using a silly but insightful Futurama quote> is that character can be defined in parts & pieces of moments not always by big things <or an entire moment>.

We each have our little demons that cannot wait to diminish our character.

They lurk in the parts & pieces of the moments.

Is it within the waiting?

Is it within the battle?

Is it within how we manage after the battle?

They exist everywhere & nowhere. And in that same everywhere & nowhere our character awaits.

Character manages to deal with the parts & pieces of moments … the moments which contain both the best of times & the worst of time … and … well … all these parts & pieces define our character.

Every moment is a battle in itself. There is always a waiting before as well as the battle itself. They all overlap. We may hate it … but it is simply the worst … and best … and it is Life.

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Written by Bruce