There is no Last Straw

I've lived an interesting life.

Those of you who know how to read that, can read between the lines and fill it in. The rest of you, I have a few words for. I don't have time for more than a few, but I had to say this today, right now:

There's no last straw. As long as you are drawing breath, and sometimes even when your heart stops, it's not the end. You can endure a staggering load, and even when you're thinking 'I can't handle one more thing. I just can't' you get hit with something else and after you stagger, you get up and balance the load best you can, and you carry on.

I've thought I hit the unendurable. I was wrong. If you are thinking there's nothing left on your rope but the fall and the abyss, you're wrong. There's more, it's just going to take some time for it to clarify. Don't let go. Don't stop. Don't stay down when you fall down.

There's no last straw.

There are people who will help if you call out.

You can endure defeat, because the only way to lose is to stop playing.

Ask.

Take a step. Even a baby step forward.

Breathe.

Breathe again.

We're here.