Life often throws challenges our way, but there are moments when we face the unthinkable—situations so unexpected and overwhelming that they defy preparation. These events test our resilience, forcing us to confront fears, adapt, and find strength in the face of adversity.
Whether it’s a personal loss, a global crisis, or a sudden upheaval, the unthinkable disrupts our routines and reshapes our understanding of control. However, such moments also serve as opportunities for growth. They reveal the depth of human courage, the importance of community, and the power of hope.
Stories of individuals overcoming the unthinkable—whether through perseverance, innovation, or solidarity—remind us of our capacity to endure. While we may never predict life’s curveballs, we can build emotional resilience by fostering connections, embracing change, and cultivating empathy.
The unthinkable challenges us, but it also reminds us of what truly matters: our shared humanity and the strength to rebuild, together.
A huge purple door washed up in the bay overnight,
its paintwork blistered and peeled from weeks at sea.
The town storyteller wasted no time in getting to work:
the beguiling, eldest girl of a proud, bankrupt farmer
had slammed that door in the face of a Freemason’s son,
who in turn had bulldozed both farm and family
over the cliff, except for the girl, who lived now
by the light and heat of a driftwood fire on a beach.
There was some plan to use the door as a jetty
or landing-stage, but it was all bullshit, the usual idle talk.
That’s when he left and never returned. Him I won’t name —
not known for his big ideas or carpentry skills,
a famous non-swimmer, but last seen sailing out,
riding the current and rounding the point in a small boat
with tell-tale flashes of almost certainly purple paint.