Inspired Skunk Anansie. (1996). Weak. On Stoosh [Audio album]. One Little Indian Records.
Photo by 愚木混株 Yumu on Unsplash
I think the title of this blog piece, a lyric from Skunk Anansie’s Weak As I Am, is such an intriguing and captivating lyric inviting so many questions. How much does our heart hold? What thoughts? What secrets? What desires and ambitions, hopes and fears?
The song reflects thoughts of a relationship where Skin (its singer) could do so much better. In this context, I think the lyric reflects the deep yearning of a heart wanting to express so much more than words could ever express. Thoughts beyond words. Feelings which, if allowed, would consume the individual’s whole existence.
It certainly seems this unrequited love leaves less than satisfaction, but equally it is still almost irresistible playing with our sense of time, space and being seen. I think this fractured and torn nature of our feelings goes beyond relationships extending across the nature of life itself. How often do we feel divided about decisions we face, directions we might need to take and experiences we may have had? Perhaps even to the extent that we feel unable to do anything, left feeling that our desires have left us alone and a mess.
Yet this isn’t a song of defeat. It is a declaration of defiance, being weak but shrugging off the tears. Rather than regretting the duplicitous and disabling nature our feelings may take, the song embraces and accepts them as part of life’s journey.
So, how does this relate to our wellbeing beyond the realm of relationships? Our heart is an important part of our decision making in life. Indeed, decisions which only strike a cognitive resonance, and which don’t engage the whole of our being; body, heart, mind, soul, rarely take us to our potential. Yet living this life will also engage us in dealing with hurt. The resilient and holistic life is one in which we embrace hurt not as a sign of weakness, but as a result of a life honestly and fully lived.
If you are hurting today, perhaps it’s not a sign you are weak, but are attempting to live with integrity. And similarly, if you are living with integrity, perhaps it is wise to prepare yourself that this will not come without challenge. This is a song which celebrates the wholeness and strength of recognising and embracing our weakness. It’s a song which acknowledges we are not in control of everything but are in control of reactions. It is ultimately a song of realistic and honest experiences of liberation.
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