Rise From the Ashes

The legend of the phoenix can actually be found in several belief systems. It can be traced back to ancient Egypt, when it was then known as “Bennu” or Bynw”, a symbol of the sun god, Osiris. Osiris was resurrected to life from serving as ruler of the underworld.

Whether this mystical bird is attributed to the Chinese “Feng-huang”, the Jewish “Milcham” or even an emblem of Christ, the legend remains the same…

After serving its life cycle, the phoenix builds a nest and then by the sun and the friction of its own wings, is consumed by fire. It is inevitably reborn from the very ashes. The phoenix is therefore symbolic of resurrection, immortality, and my personal favourite - triumph over adversity.

I has been said repeatedly that there are two types of people in this world: “marathoners” and “sprinters”. Both are ambitious at heart. They set a goal and will pursue it zealously. The only difference is that a sprinter expects to see immediate results and if they do not receive those results, they may get discouraged and give up all together. A marathoner, on the other hand, can get side-tracked, knocked down, and trampled on but will refocus and redirect when necessary in order to meet their ultimate goal.

For example, a woman who had planned to lose 30 pounds in three months may be disappointed upon realizing that after the first month, she has only lost six. She had obviously expected to see faster results. But if that same woman takes into consideration that she is more toned or has more stamina, she may alter her end goal. She may decide “I want to go down a few dress sizes”, or “I want to be able to incorporate fitness and nutrition into my lifestyle permanently.” Along the way, she may miss a few morning jogs or go off her so-called diet, but above all, she is patient with herself and does not give up.

Patience is essential. It’s important to accept that results are not always immediate. Sometimes, they aren’t even tangible. But by just going through the necessary steps, you are on your way, whether you realize it or not. Afterall, the journey of 1000 miles begins with one step. By altering your original goal, you have not fallen short. You have simply become aware enough to realize when and how to strategize.

It was Benjamin Franklin who said, “Some people die at twenty-five and aren’t buried until they are seventy-five”. Some of us passively sit back and watch the rest of life go on because we feel we have had too many set-backs or let-downs to further pursue our dreams. Our patience has run out.

Each and every one of us knows what it's like to get side-tracked, feel knocked down, and even trampled upon by others.  Will you fall back when it comes to your current goals or will you RISE UP more determined to succeed than ever?