The Day of the Dead and Halloween are the time when, supposedly, the walls between the worlds are thinned and the spirits can communicate easily. What might those who are long gone have to say to us?

Here is something from poet, Adam Lindsay Gordon:

“Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone,
KINDNESS in another’s trouble,
COURAGE in your own.”

Gordon was an Australia poet, jockey and politician. It is hard to believe that the man who penned such gentle and kind words took his own life at 36 years of age.

From his life story there is much we can learn about what can kill courage and the importance of holding on when things are tough.

WHAT KNOCKED HIM DOWN

1.CRUELTY:
Gordon’s Father was a retired Navy Captain who sent him off to military school before he was 7 and kept him in various academies and grammar schools until he was 18. He then sent Gordon to Australia, enrolling him in the mounted police, to teach him “discipline.” Is it any wonder Gordon reputedly suffered low self esteem?

2. ALONENESS:
Both his mother and his father died when he was in his 20s and so Gordon was far from home and completely without family support in the rough and ready Australia of the 1850s.

Nonetheless, Gordon made a go of things and established himself with some merit as a horseman, a poet and even a State politician.

3. RIDICULE:
He was invited to parliament at the age of 31 but his colorful speeches were seen as “irrelevant” so he retired after a year.

4. DIFFICULTY:
Within 3 short years he was dead. During this time he suffered several horse riding accidents, including one that left him with some brain injury, his daughter died at 11 months at age, he had numerous business failures and was forced to abandon a claim to an estate in Scotland

5.DAMAGE TO HOPE:
Finally, he managed to get his last book of poetry published. It was not successful when it was released and he realized he had a huge bill to pay for book publication and no way to pay.

Now he was alone, without resources and without support. He killed himself the next day.

The book that caused his death is NOW regarded as one of Australia’s most important pieces of literature!!!!!

What else might he have written if he had just had a little support and been able to believe in himself just one more time?

WHAT COULD HAVE BUILT HIM UP

1. A LITTLE HOPE:

“Day of the Dead” can remind us that many have lived hard lives, not everyone gets a perfect life. Gordon was a man who had had a hard life and was apart from family. He just needed hope that things could get better.

2. KINDNESS:

Just a few kind words, in the press, in the reviews, from those around him could have made all the difference.

Sometimes when we are down we just need a little bit of kindness. If you can, surround yourself with people who will give it to you.

3. HOLDING ON!

You never know your impact or how much success you may actually be earning when you wade through the hard times, disappointments and losses.

It is in the hard times that we must be kindest to ourselves, believe in ourselves the MOST and bloody mindedly refuse to give up on ourselves!

4. KNOWING HE WAS ENOUGH:

On the other hand Gordon’s life reminds me of the importance of showing kindness to OURSELVES when life is hard.

It is in the hard days with our kids that we have to tell ourselves that we are doing a GREAT job,

That all of our struggles are worth it and

That our courage to keep trying is the most important thing.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND RESURRECT YOURSELF JUST ONE MORE TIME!

Now that is a message worthy of the Day of the Dead.

Dr. T.

Photo Credits: c. Depositphotos/ UrchenkoJulia/Depiano.