The will of the human spirit to not just survive, but to strive to thrive, has been demonstrated time and again throughout history. I wrote the following almost a year ago, but it is still (even more?) relevant today. The Italians showed us how – do you remember?

March 2020: Italy’s rebuttal to the arrival of the COVID and harsh lockdowns? Their war cry against loss and isolation was heard loud and clear from balcony to balcony across Italy. The message? “You are hurting us, but you will NEVER defeat our spirit!”

The streets of Italy were not empty, they were filled with song. The hearts of Italians were not defeated, they chose to express joy. Music built a bridge between fear and determination.

The singing began in one neighborhood and quickly the Italian call for resilience went viral across the country. The news spread around the world, as Italy reminded us all that the human spirit will never be crushed. Thank you, dear Italy, for holding a light for strength in the face of adversity.

Inspirational Quotes:

“The human spirit is as expansive as the cosmos. This is why it is so tragic to belittle yourself or to question your worth. No matter what happens, continue to push back the boundaries of your inner life. The confidence to prevail over any problem, the strength to overcome adversity and unbounded hope – all reside within you.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda

“Everything can be taken from you in a second, but the human spirit is so strong. War can teach you so much about evil, and so much about good.” ~ Zainab Salbi

“One thing I’ve learnt about humans: you can’t judge their strength by the size of their actions, but by the devotion of an act, no matter how small.” ~ Dianna Hardy

© Susan L Hart 2021 |  Friendly comments welcome | Photos courtesy of Mariamichelle and Free-Photos, Pixabay