Greek mythology always leaves me pondering - it stuns me with the vivid pictures, then allows me to pick lessons.
So is the story of Antaeus. He was born of Poseidon and Gaia. Poseidon ruled over the seas, Gaia was the earth herself - the mother of Uranus.
Long before he was defeated by Heracles, Antaeus was always rumoured to be invincible. Stories recorded that Antaeus would wait at the entrance of Libya and force passersby to wrestle him - he always crushed them, piling their skulls so he could build a temple to his father, Poseidon.
This is where it gets interesting - he was only invincible as long as he maintained contact with Mother Earth. When Heracles eventually crushed him, Heracles did so by suspending him in the air, away from Mother Earth, crushing him in a bear hug.
In reflection, a lot of people have not been truly tested by the realities of the world because they have insulation. Insulation in systems, in parents, in their backgrounds. Just like Antaeus, the illusion of their strength is in contact with Gaia.
On the day Heracles decides to test your resolve, all it takes is for you to fall once, and if there is anything I know, it is the fact that a man who is used to standing and has never fallen will not be able to stand on the day he falls.
An extension of this conversation goes to parents who shield their children entirely from life's realities. You cannot apologise for having leverage in life, especially if your parents paved your way - but it is important to consistently stress-test how much of life you really can handle.
In the absence of the strength that grounds you, how do you survive?