Heavy is the weight of responsibility
When others are looking at you with pity
Their disgust is like a pie with just one cherry
World is not easy to carry
But you should not kneel in your miserability
Even for the greatest, life is tricky
(⌚️5 minutes end here)
Prompt for today's poem was: weigh heavy
The first thought I had once seeing the prompt for today's challenge, was about how people must sometimes take burden of carrying others around them, to show them the way to greatness and goodness. It is not an easy task, to be the one that others rely upon. But it can be very rewarding duty, to be the pillar for someone or something.
Mythological Atlas could represent very valuable attitude, that sometimes we lack in our daily world (you can find another example in one of my previous posts about Saint Sisyphus). Altas was sentenced (same as Sisyphus!) by gods, to suffer a punishment. But in this case, the job to do is meaningfull by its desing - one shall carry the world on his back.
This is not something people usually want to do. In one of organizations I am working for, we have seen this as existential challenge for our work: there are plenty of people who want to work, who want to volunteer and who even are ready to sacrifice some of their private time for non-profit, good work - but the number of people who would like to LEAD is very low, not sufficient to cover all needs. There are people eager to do some good - but not to coordinate the work. This is just one of the examples, the example I am close with - but I believe you can see other such examples in your lives as well. Currently, being the one that holds everything together is not the top dream job.
Atlas also did not want the job. But if you look at it not from individuals pleasure, but from what good can you make - then you will see that being a pillar for someone else is a way to enjoy life more. When others can rely upon you (not in an exploitative way, but in a truly helpful way), you can smile by seeing their smile. You can be a best friend by only partying with someone - but you can also be their trusted advisor and good listener. You can be a leader distributing tasks - but you can also support your colleagues by showing them a way how to deal with problems and you can spread a great attitude. You can be Atlas by someone else choice - but you can also pick up your burden, and go through live helping others around you.
Yes, indeed, Altas haven't chosen the path- but he do what he can, he can make the most out of the situation, and most importantly - he can be a vaulting, holding up a beautiful building of his and others' lives. And if we'd apply ancient measures, Atlas could become the one that takes the burden of others on himself, the one that is sacrificing himself, and is doing his best to be the best version of himself - a saint.
Picture taken last year during my Camino, in Cathedral of Burgos, where lies Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, also known as El Cid (the Lord) and El Campeador (the Champion), great example of how to be a leader and how to inspire others
