Vulnerability.steemCreated with Sketch.

in esteem •  6 years ago 

Vulnerability.

This is my entry for the New #MacroPhotography Challenge hosted by @homeartpictures

There is something about the hands of little babies that just melts my heart. Every chubby little finger speaks to me of vulnerability and innocence. It doesn't matter who the baby belongs to, the sight and touch of those small hands releases my strong motherly instincts which has never debated over the years.

35lahqtrmx.png

I remember the exquisite feeling of having my first born wrap his tiny fingers around one of mine. It was a moment of overwhelming emotion which triggered a deep sense of responsibility and protection towards my baby and every time I reached for his hand and he clasped his fingers around mine it sealed afresh, that very special bond between mother and son.

Of course those exact same feelings occurred at the birth of my second and third sons and again with each one of my seven grandchildren. Perhaps we all view vulnerability in a slightly different light but to me it means, "A state of being where one's safe existence and development depends entirely or partly, on another.

a6d8cb893b.png

After thinking about this word further, I realize that we all go through periods where we feel very vulnerable. Circumstances can strip a person of their confidence overnight or it can slowly erode over weeks or months if our vulnerability continues despite repeated efforts to receive effective protection and assurance needed to overcome those feelings or situations.

My musings caused me to think of those more likely to become vulnerable in todays society. Babies certainly cannot defend themselves and are completely dependent on their parents until they learn;

(A) How to fend for themselves and,
(B) How to defend themselves.

ag9k7bu851.png

The sick, the poor the elderly are among the most vulnerable and I am sure that the extent of an individual's vulnerability will depend on how they are exposed to the risks of this happening to them. Even within social groups one can feel isolated, rejected, and bullied and sadly we see far too much of this modern phenomenon affecting people of all ages.

Factors such as different ethnic backgrounds, stress, natural disasters and lack of preparedness for these sudden events can trigger ongoing vulnerability which of course leads to health issues and other real life complications. Everywhere I look, I see people who are hurting. I have not been immune from hurt. And during such times, my pain blinds me to others pain. I read a profound statement once which really impacted me.

"Hurting people hurt other people." Isn't this an accurate assessment of vulnerability? It can become a vicious cycle. Let's not become victims of someone else's vulnerability. This just may be possible if we are willing to take hold of a hand extended towards us in friendship and support or be the one to reach out to those who are feeling vulnerable. It's worth trying isn't it?

THANK YOU FOR VIEWING. HAVE A GREAT DAY.

Posted using eSteem Surfer

Authors get paid when people like you upvote their post.
If you enjoyed what you read here, create your account today and start earning FREE STEEM!
Sort Order:  

These are very wise words. We should support vulnerable people and be there for them. These people don't know or can't protect themselves and very often suffer from the actions of others. Emphatic people very often suffer with them. This is how I struggle when I see that someone is doing wrong to someone else..

Oh, and I have the same feelings for chubby children hands.. but not only for hands.. I love their feet... they are so cute, especially when they are VERY chubby ;)

The chubbier the better :)

Thank you for sharing and making me smile!

Many thanks for you welcome visit and for sharing your thoughts @delishtreats I worked in a Nursing Home for a few years and found the residents vulnerability and loneliness very challenging but if I managed to alleviate their situation, even in a small way on any given day, I went home feeling well rewarded.

Oh yes! Babies hands, feet and the whole package is irresistible to me and I agree......the chubbier, the better.😊

pixresteemer_incognito_angel_mini.png
Congratz, your post has been resteemed and, who knows, will maybe appear in the next edition of the #dailyspotlights (Click on my face if you want to know more about me...)
Check the rules of the Daily Spotlights if you want to nominate someone!
Pixresteemer is also listed as promoter on The Steemians Directory

Thank you @pixresteemer

You just got a Team NZ upvote!

This is a curation bot for TeamNZ. Please join our AUS/NZ community on Discord.

Why join discord room? Here are 10 reasons why.<

Enjoying the bump? Please consider supporting your fellow Kiwis with a delegation. How? Read here.

For any inquiries/issues about the bot please contact @cryptonik.

Thanks @teamnz 🐑

Nothing a special as a little hand gripping yours... nice post @trudeehunter

So true Steven. Thanks a lot for your wonderful support. 🌹 🌻 🌹

Howdy this fine Sunday trudeehunter! You are so right about hurting people hurt others and sometimes we can be the influence to stop the pain. I love the photos, the tiny hands are so precious indeed!

Howdy @janton....Unfortunately we don't need to look far before finding someone who is hurting and when we are in a position to be a positive influence, it is a good feeling to be able to do so. I simply can't resist taking hold of a babies hand. 😊

You got a 48.62% upvote from @ocdb courtesy of @trudeehunter!

@ocdb is a non-profit bidbot for whitelisted Steemians, current max bid is 20 SBD and the equivalent amount in STEEM.
Check our website https://thegoodwhales.io/ for the whitelist, queue and delegation info. Join our Discord channel for more information.

If you like what @ocd does, consider voting for ocd-witness through SteemConnect or on the Steemit Witnesses page. :)