Overcoming Adversity, a dragon practice

The Overcoming Adversity bloghop is hosted by Nick Wilford from Scattergun Scribblings. It is part of his campaign for his stepson Andrew, who has cerebral palsy. It's all for a noble cause and there is still time to join.  Please click on the links to learn more about it. Theme is: overcoming adversity for something you believe in.

Art: Ghostwalker2061

Father Dragon and the Dragon Slayer

“The greatest treasure you will ever find is in books,” my Grandfather used to say. “Intellect is more precious than gold.”

My grandfather treasured knowledge. It shaped his personality. He believed in selfless service but not in submission. He was born under adverse circumstances. Raised as an orphan, he suffered of bad health since a hatchling. Wealth knocked at his door two times; the first as a heritage that humans stole from him, the second in the form of corruption. He was too young to fight for the first and too honest to accept the second. He rather worked hard than steal.

“The fact you’re born with disadvantages doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to a bad life.”

Surrender to adversity was against him. Flaws were challenges and opportunities to show his quality. My Grandfather and I had a common enemy, the Dragon Slayer. That ruthless hunter poisons our bodies and can turn our life into a living hell. He is invisible when he attacks Dragon Fathers and only his opponent can see him. My Grandfather fought the Dragon Slayer first, but he taught me how he did it. He was aware I would become the next Father Dragon and I would face the Dragon Slayer sooner rather than later.

“Don’t be afraid of our enemy. He serves us to prove what we are made of,” Grandpa would tell me. “You and I have Champions’ blood.”

We fought together several times, and often we recovered from our wounds together. His wounds were always the worst but the more they hurt, the louder he sang. He encouraged me to sing along, and he told me jokes to make me laugh.

“If you laugh, it doesn’t hurt that much anymore. It’s when you focus on your wounds that the pain turns into a torment.”

Once I questioned him, rather upset of my mauled condition. “Where do you get strength to laugh at pain?”

 “Listen carefully. When you face adversity, sixty percent of the outcome depends on your attitude. If you accept the victim’s role –Fate’s victim, God’s victim, circumstances’ victim or your enemy’s victim – you will feel trapped and helpless. It will be your doom. But if you think of adversity like a mission appointed to the Ultimate Warrior, you’ll see the challenge but you will also feel empowered with fortitude and resilience meant for heroes. You will become that hero in your heart and you will strive to fulfill your mission, regardless the odds.”

I had the chance to see his words turn into action many times along the years. Doctors were in awe that he got better from conditions that meant death to any other dragon. In the end, it was not the Dragon Slayer that killed him but old age.

The last words of Father Dragon “The Great” to me were a joke. Mine were a vow.

I will never be the Dragon Slayer’s victim, but the hero that will conquer him because I am Father Dragon now.