• Home
  • About
    • Work with Me
  • Destinations
    • England
    • France
    • Italy
    • Scotland
    • United States
    • Wales
  • Mental Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
Life Well Wandered

Life Well Wandered

30 May 2015 · Leave a Comment

Finding Strength Through My Favourite Poem

Lifestyle· Mental Health

Share this post:

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Email

When asked what my favourite poem is, one poem always comes to mind: Invictus by William Ernest Henley. It holds so much power in its entirety that I find it hard to chop up, even though I do have a favourite verse from it (in the italics below).

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gait,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

During my worst bouts of anxiety (especially back when I didn’t know what was happening to me), I would recite this poem by heart over and over. When I feel particularly hopeless or sad, I recite it (sometimes verbally, sometimes in my head). It has always been a source of comfort and strength for me and I find it incredibly inspiring. It’s one of those feelings that words just can’t describe.If you’re thinking that this poem sounds a bit familiar, it’s because it’s in the eponymous movie Invictus. Nelson Mandela had it while in prison and would use it as a source of courage when he no longer wanted to work. It got him through all those atrocities. Whenever I watch that part of the movie, I tear up. Just adding the video here I got a little teary-eyed!

I think it’s good for everyone to have a poem or quote to make them feel powerful, comforted or loved. It doesn’t matter who wrote it or what it’s from (some of my other favourite quotes are from Parks & Rec), it just matters that it has meaning to you and makes you feel good.

See also  Don't Let Anxiety Stop You From Travel: Here's How

What is your favourite poem or quote? Let me know! I’m always looking for more inspiration :)

You may also like

Share this post:

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Email
Previous Post: « Bravery
Next Post: Embracing Uncertainty »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to Life Well Wandered

alex life well wandered

Welcome to my corner of the internet! Life Well Wandered is a travel blog where you'll find a little bit of everything. I love sharing itineraries from past trips, secret spots I've discovered on my travels, histories of places I find fascinating, and stories about my mental health.

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
Life Well Wandered

Search

What’s New

  • A Guide to Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds
  • The Real-Life Inspiration for Moria? Exploring St. Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold
  • A Lord of the Rings Guide to the Cotswolds: Places That Inspired Tolkien’s World
  • Day Trips from London: Stonehenge & Salisbury
  • Visiting Upper Slaughter in the Cotswolds: A Guide
Follow
college tourist

Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Please check our disclosure page for more information.

lifewellwandered

Alex | Travel Blogger/Wanderer
One of my favorite things about traveling in Franc One of my favorite things about traveling in France is the constant reminder to slow down. ✨ On a spontaneous stop in Tours after a busy morning of castle-visiting, we visited the cathedral (more on that soon) and wandered over to Place Plumereau. My former self would have wanted to maximize sightseeing, making a quick stop and moving on. 💥 However, the groups of people enjoying the beautiful weather with wine and cheese made it impossible to refuse a snack and break myself. 🍷🧀 Sitting on a terrace surrounded by others just ~being~ was a great reminder to slow down and soak up the moment 😌 #lifewellwandered #mindfultravel
What's one thing you always notice when you visit What's one thing you always notice when you visit a historical building? 🤓 I always notice floors and staircases, constantly imagining who used them and the history they've witnessed. ✨ The staircases in the châteaux in the Loire Valley did not disappoint 😍 #lifewellwandered
Château de Châteaudun has one of the largest and Château de Châteaudun has one of the largest and best preserved keeps in France, dating from the 12th century 🤓 at 102 ft (31m) tall, it dominates your view when you visit. SWIPE to see more shots from the château, including centuries-old graffiti from the castle's prisons 😯 #lifewellwandered
This view was not something I expected when I visi This view was not something I expected when I visited Chartres 😍 I would love to sit in that sun room with a good book 🤓 Wishing everyone a lovely weekend (hopefully with pleasant weather) ☀️ #lifewellwandered
Do you prefer French or English gardens? 🌸 Some Do you prefer French or English gardens? 🌸 Something about the symmetry of French gardens (pictured here) is very pleasing to me, but I really dislike the rules that come along — no walking on grass, no random meandering from one spot to another, limited to the confines of your current trajectory. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I enjoy the freedom and wildness (is that a real word?) of English gardens much more! #lifewellwandered
Which half-timbered building would you live in? 🤔 Whenever I'm in Europe, I always find myself drawn to these quirky, wonky buildings, each with a unique history. 🤓 Drop me in any one and I would be content 😍 #lifewellwandered
Weekend plans: hiding from the heatwave in DC whil Weekend plans: hiding from the heatwave in DC while wishing I was in France 😫 🏰 #lifewellwandered
Take me back to beautiful French châteaux 😍 Ch Take me back to beautiful French châteaux 😍 Château d'Azay-le-Rideau is one of the most picturesque castles I have ever visited—it was built in the early 16th century and seemingly rises straight from the river Indre 🏰
Me every 5 seconds walking around a medieval town Me every 5 seconds walking around a medieval town 📷
Load More... Follow on Instagram
  • Home
  • About
  • Destinations
  • Mental Health
  • Lifestyle

Copyright © 2023 · beloved theme by Restored 316