I Can Rise Alone Whenever I Fall

Summary

An elderly individual reflects on the challenges and ironies of self-improvement advice amidst financial constraints and societal issues, ultimately asserting their self-reliance and resilience.

Abstract

The author shares a personal narrative in response to a self-improvement writing prompt, highlighting the disconnect between popular advice and their lived reality. They discuss the unaffordability of recommended books, the danger of walking in their area, the lack of social connections due to circumstances, and the financial barriers to travel and holidays. Despite these challenges, the author finds moments of joy and connection in small interactions and has grown past caring about the judgments of others. They emphasize their ability to uplift themselves without external validation, even as they face the irony of a power outage while writing about self-improvement.

Opinions

The author feels that self-improvement advice often ignores the realities of financial hardship and personal circumstances.
There is a sense of frustration towards friends who have abandoned the author, possibly due to their financial situation.
The author expresses a defiant attitude towards societal expectations and the opinions of neighbors.
They appreciate the small, genuine interactions they have, such as with shop assistants, as a source of emotional sustenance.
The author is critical of the superficiality of self-improvement fads, like morning routines, which may not be accessible or relevant to everyone's life.
Despite the challenges, the author maintains a sense of humor and resilience, emphasizing their ability to rise above difficulties independently.

Poetry prompt: Self improvement

Image by Geralt on Pixabay

read atomic habits i can’t afford the book travel is good for you then give me a ticket to ride — and free accommodation

walk in nature have you seen the rocky road where I live even if I stroll along the potholed gravel road I could get mugged huh so you think it’s safe living in a peri-urban area, the countryside? criminals are everywhere they even steal our power cables

socialise more sure I don’t have a car and nobody visits I get a lift each week for grocery shopping converse with strangers although some shop assistants know me by name now or call me mama I crack jokes make them laugh

a dose of energizing connection keeps me going for a few days but wears off long before my next great escape

I used to feel embarrassed about being poor and having to live out of town where I don’t pay rent but I’m old enough now in my seventies to not give a damn what the neighbors think

friends who have deserted me were obviously never friends if my lack of resources makes them uncomfortable

take a holiday they say oy vey — who pays?

whatever next!

you send me a text of affirmations confirmation you don’t know me can’t show me a thing or two boo hoo no income for you

I break down my own walls without walking your halls of fame and shame you don’t know me at all

I can rise alone whenever I fall

I free wrote this in response to #WritingPrompt: self-improvement content — improvement or shame?

Halfway through typing, our electricity went off in the neighborhood. An effective time management tool as I can’t fool around with editing — must create a title and tags and search for an image before my batteries run out — router, laptop and me😊

Hopefully, by the time you publish this, I’ll have power again — is that self-empowerment? But maybe not, as the City of Tshwane’s workers have been on an illegal strike for three weeks, so who will switch us on again — and when?

I’m switching off after sending this. See you around sometime!

Thank you for being here, although I may not be back for who knows how long.

I Can Rise Alone Whenever I Fall

Poetry prompt: Self improvement

it’s incredible how morning routines have become such a fad

a poem and a writing challenge