"Survival: To continue to live or exist in spite of"
This is quoted from Webster's. I would like to expand on this definition a bit. On the internet we talk about survivors a lot. But I have seen the word used in some strange ways at times and I wonder if by using it so much to cover so many things that we have watered the definition. Personally in my own context, to survive means not only to "exist in spite of".... Yes we come out the other side still breathing. But the part that I want to add lives inside our heads and psyche, the crux of happiness and creativity and the feelings of being worthwhile. I think only part of a person survives if they cannot grasp this and hang onto it. I think it is a major thrust of why many are driven to seek therapy, because they want more of the good part of actually surviving. THAT is the part I see as coming out the other side, moving through the misery and claiming the good part of life. Physically surviving is not enough for most people. Do we not want more of this life? I do. I want happiness and to feel loved and supported. I want to feel worthwhile and that those years of pain were not in vain. I also want to be free to support others in that endeavor. I'm not going to run and hide.
Posted on Feb 21, 2002, 4:30 PM from IP address 65.25.234.102