Today begins the first week of April 2023, and its Holy Week. I share with you a word that continues to resonate with me: impervious.
It’s probably not a word many uses daily; however, it’s one I can’t escape from my mind.
May you have had a word in your mind this week that resonates with you.
Impervious is an adjective that means not allowing fluid to pass through or unable to be affected by.
Impervious Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
There were various scenarios where I could use the word impervious
I also thought about the opposite of impervious or the antonyms for impervious such as permeable.
51 Synonyms & Antonyms of IMPERVIOUS | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
You’re probably asking where I am going with this.
I want you to think about the people you know and decide how well they accept criticism and if they are either thick or thin skin.
You probably didn’t see that coming at all.
You and I have had multiple conversations with thin and thick-skinned people.
However, I believe that thin-skinned individuals allow certain things to take over and don’t accept criticism very well.
Then there are people we know who are unaffected by anything and are like ducks who let the water run off their backs.
“People often use this to describe insults or other negative actions that others do against them that do not harm them. A common collocation is to roll off someone like water off a duck’s back. Origin of Water Off a Duck’s Back This expression originated in the 1800s.”
What Does Water Off a Duck’s Back Mean? – Writing Explained
Because I am a practicing Catholic, this week begins Holy Week and will conclude it with an 8:PM Easter Vigil Mass. I tell you this because it’s my favorite Mass. Although it’s typically about three hours, it’s a history lesson about one person that was impervious to sin.
When I think about how Jesus was attacked for being himself, I think about the word impervious.
When I think about Jesus being slapped and mocked, I think about the word impervious.
Finally, when I think about the 39 lashes of the “cat of nine tails” it was 39 times nine, or 351 lashes, I think about the word impervious.
It’s a reminder that you will be attacked for being yourself.
It’s a reminder you and I must walk in the authenticity of our divine assignment.
As I speak for myself, I’m able, through reflection, to see areas where I can improve towards being more impervious. Doing so allows me to internally process better thoughts without allowing others to affect my attitude.
Not very often, however, there are times when I need that reminder taken from the Dalai Lama: “Don’t let the behaviors of others destroy your inner peace.”
It’s my reminder of the word impervious through the Dalai Lama.
Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace. – Tamara Kulish
This past week I was part of a team that worked imperviously to help support another comrade in arms hosting an alum call for several members of the 35th Signal Brigade.
My role was to assist; however, it was a team effort that turned out to be a fantastic event, with about 78 people attending.
Sometimes it requires plenty of work upfront to make an event happen with the 35th Signal Brigade Alumni Orange Call, in meeting our highest expectations.
I’m happy to report that the result was better than expected because of being impervious to time and anything Murphy Law had in store for us.
You and I have various schedules and demands in life. Sometimes it calls for being impervious to the required time, and we must balance our work life to make it happen.
As I close out the week, I have been impervious to the amount of sleep, yet I accomplished more than I expected.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”-Nelson Mandela
What about you? Are you being impervious towards taking on more, or have you decided you’re going to let others destroy your inner peace?
As mentioned, this is Holy Week for me, and for most in the country, Sunday is Resurrection Sunday or Easter for those celebrating.
I wish you the best, being impervious to all the challenges we must deal with every day.
Over the last forty days, I’ve taken advantage of this Lenten Season to reflect more. It has allowed me the opportunity to be more impervious by not allowing the behaviors of others to destroy my inner peace.
Do you remember how I started this conversation about all the various scenarios in which I could use the word impervious or the opposite, which is permeable?
This quote from Dale Carnegie is a clever way of pointing out that people are often quicker to criticize than to compliment. “Once I did bad and that I heard ever. Twice I did good, but that I heard never.”
Today, I chose to be impervious and not permeable.
