#SoCS Oct 10/17 Still Standing

This post was written in response to Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness prompt

Today’s prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “still.”  Use any definition of the word in your post. Have fun! Here’s mine.

I’m ‘Still’ Standing

As soon as I saw today’s prompt Elton John’s song came to my mind. It’s one of my favourites and of course, ‘still’ is the most important word in the chorus and the most important concept in the song. I’ve been humming it all day, while I was with my daughter and grandchildren, trying to remember the lyrics, but I’m afraid I only got as far as some of the lines of the chorus.

The first line I remember is ‘I’m still standing better than I ever did’. And that’s how I feel. It’s not easy to ‘stand’ after so many years of coping with life’s ups and downs. I have three grandchildren, which implies I’ve had my own children, brought them up, kept up a full-time job in a demanding profession, and I’m now watching them do the same.

It is ‘better’ now because I’m back to square one, almost on my own again, and able to look after myself and cater for my own needs, most of the time. Which is nice because I do actually feel ‘better than I ever did’. I’m not competing with life or with anyone any more. This is who I am and this is what you get. Like it or leave it. And believe me, that takes a load off my mind!

The next line says something about, ‘Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid’, and that’s true too. I’m well into my fifth decade, with no major physical or emotional scars, and I still feel young enough to have a go at plenty of new and exciting projects.

I am indeed ‘still standing after all this time’, and proud of it.

The next line says, ‘Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind’, which I interpret as leaving behind hang ups and people who no longer have a place in my life. I’ve done that too, although it’s an ongoing process. I have no time for negative people who rock my boat, pull me down, or behave like emotional vampires. I recognise them a mile off. I make sure I keep well away. On the other hand, wonderful people keep popping into my life, literally every day. I feel very fortunate in my ‘physical world’ friends as well as my ‘virtual’ friends.

In short, I’m glad I’ve come this far and still have projects and positive expectations for the future. I’d say that’s an achievement!

I’m still standing yeah yeah yeah
I’m still standing yeah yeah yeah

Thanks for reminding me Elton John!

Would you like to watch him singing?

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