Together We Are Strong
Together, we are strong.
Militaries fight as close-knit families, standing guard for each other and defending their homeland against unspeakable horrors. Law enforcement and first responders combine their skills for the protection of innocent lives, no matter what the situation may be or how much danger may be involved. Communities band together in times of crisis, when lives have been lost in terror attacks or natural disasters, working tirelessly to rebuild and restore.
Together, we can accomplish things that would be impossible to do alone.
In unity there is strength, but where does it come from? It seems commonly accepted that there must be some mysterious force making the team stronger than the individual, some sort of solidarity in action. It seems as though the individual is weak by comparison, that one person could not possibly shoulder such heavy burdens and have such dramatic impacts on others.
And yet, the strength of the team comes from the individual.
Individual efforts are the very thing that make a team so powerful.
It may seem selfish at first advocate for aggressive individualism, every person focusing primarily on his or her own aspirations. It may seem to be a message of isolationism and distrust, though it is exactly the opposite. Every person has the moral obligation to advance their own skills as far as they possibly can, not only for themselves but for their communities.
Inside every person is a wealth of talent and ability.
Inside every person is the power to change the world.
To underestimate the individual is to insult the very essence of human nature. Every famous scientist, inventor, general, and president throughout history put massive amounts of study and effort into improving themselves and honing their expertise. They did so not out of selfishness, but so they would have the platform and the resources to bring the greatest amount of good into the world.
The strongest teams are not made of those who cower in fear and tremble at the slightest obstacle. The strongest teams are made of warriors, standing firm in the face of uncertainty. They refuse to back down during a crisis, rising to protect anyone who cannot protect themselves. They are seen as heroes, although to them it is merely their duty.
Together, we are strong.
But before we can be strong together, we must first be strong alone.
Get up every morning with a sense of purpose, ready to take on the day. Strive for perfection at every task; even the most meaningless of chores can be used as practice for matters of life and death. Go to work with the confidence of a CEO, walking in the doors each day with your head held high and every piece of paper in order. Don’t be discouraged by failure or trauma; take it as an opportunity to grow stronger and more confident.
Above all, never give up.
As yourself not what you would die for, but what you would live for. Maybe it’s your family or a close friend. Maybe it’s religion or your faith in the universe. It doesn’t matter what it is, so long as you hold it close to your heart. When it feels like the world is crashing down around you and you can barely get out of bed in the morning, that one thing will keep you going.
You can only stand up for others if you first stand up for yourself.
Alone we are strong, so that together we are stronger.