He Forgot The Hands That Held Him — Until He Fell Again

 By Chris Ekeme

The world breaks all men. Afterward, some are strong at the broken places. Others stay broken.

Here is how to be strong.

1. Breathe Like a Soldier Under Fire

Bullets do not ask if you are ready. Stress does not wait for permission.

Breathe in. Four seconds. Hold. Four seconds. Out. Four seconds.

Do this until your hands stop shaking.

2. Move Like a Boxer Between Rounds

Stress is energy trapped in the body. A boxer does not sit still between rounds. He paces. He shakes out his arms.

Walk. Run. Lift something heavy. Move until the energy finds its way out.

3. Name the Enemy

Fear grows in the dark. Pull it into the light.

"I am not tired. I am afraid."
"This is not anger. This is grief."

Speak it. Then it is just a thing. Not a monster.

4. Find the Next Step

In war, soldiers do not think about the whole battle. They think about the next trench. The next reload.

What is your next trench?
Reply to one email. Wash one dish. Walk to the end of the street.

Small victories win wars.

5. Drink Water. Eat Meat.

The brain is a machine. It needs fuel.

Skip the whiskey. Skip the sugar. Drink water. Eat eggs. Eat steak.

A hungry man makes bad decisions.

6. Shock the System

Dunk your face in ice water. Hold it there.

The cold is a rifle jammed in battle—clear it fast. Reset.

7. Write It Down

Put the chaos on paper. Do not think. Just write.

"I must..."
"I fear..."

Seeing it makes it smaller.

8. Talk to One Good Man

Not a crowd. Not strangers. One man who has earned your trust.

Say: "I am in the weeds."

A good man will listen. A great man will say: "Me too."

9. Look at the Sky

The stars do not care about your deadlines. The sun will rise anyway.

Watch clouds. Count birds. Remember: You are small. That is okay.

10. Use Your Hands

Whittle wood. Fix a hinge. Fold paper.

Make something. Even if it does not matter.

11. Sleep Like a Soldier

You cannot stand watch forever.

Lie down. Close your eyes. Let the night pass.

12. Remember: This Will Pass

Pain is temporary. Even the worst wounds scar.

You have been here before. You survived.

You will survive again.

Finally

The bell rings. You are still standing.

That is enough.

Tomorrow is another fight.

Rest now.