5. We All Have a Weakness – the Story of Achilles
Last but not least, the story of Achilles can teach us a lot about our own strengths and our own weaknesses. The story goes that when Achilles was a child his mother, Thetis, dipped him in the waters of the River Styx, which made him invulnerable. He became a champion warrior throughout his life, serving as one of the greatest fighters in the Trojan War. But one part of his body was not invulnerable—his heel, which is where his mother had been holding him as a baby—was susceptible to injury. Hence the term “Achilles’ heel” that you often hear today. Ultimately Achilles was killed by an arrow that was shot through his heel, which serves as a reminder that we all have our own weaknesses, no matter how strong or put together we may seem. We need to recognize our strengths and our weaknesses, and work to protect and improve ourselves if we want to survive and thrive in life.
