We talk about someone being exploited when they are squeezed dry like a lemon. This is meant negatively, in the sense that everything is squeezed out of them with great pressure and the person is destroyed or exploited in the process. When I think about how we deal with lemons in terms of nutrition, I see no other use for them than to either cut them into slices or wedges or to squeeze them. Then it has fulfilled its purpose for us: it gives us its healthy juice, we use it as a valuable food for us. Against this background, the comparison with the squeezed lemon is perhaps not so negative: sometimes pressure is needed to bring out the best in us - but then also for the benefit and blessing of others. Our task and responsibility is then to create enough time and space for recovery - for the next pressure situation.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
