Standing Steady After Hard Times Takes Patience And Unfortunately, A Whole Lot Of Practice

Life has a way of really kicking you in the pants sometimes. You are going through life sometimes feeling great, other times feeling moody but if you are like most of us you really try to make the best of it. Why be moody and miserable when you can choose to be happy.

While we all have different circumstances, different upbringings and different methods of dealing with things, I think we can all agree that we are generally all the same.

We are people who feel deeply, get stressed, love unconditionally, work hard, feel weak, drained, unexcited, excited, blessed, we can go on and on with this. However even though we all feel the same things, the things that take us to those emotions are different.

Maybe you get stressed over bills while another gets stressed over driving on the highway. Or maybe you get excited when you see a new pair of boots that you absolutely must have while another could care less about new boots but gets excited over a song they haven't heard for years. What I am trying to say is we are different but the same. Get it!

My life last year took me to some of the darkest places I have ever been. I cried like I haven't cried before. I am shocked that I can still muster up a good cry now after the river I cried in 2014.

It could have been the worst year of my life. It could have been. However, even after all the crying I managed to smile at work, greet everyone with a kind word and a smile because I was taught that you may be the only kind word or kind face someone sees. So always treat people with kindness.

During my dark days I woke up and kissed and hugged my children telling them all the loving things parents tell the little people they love. Coming undone wasn't an option. I had to still stand steady and get through my life. There was never a day I didn't think I couldn't do it. I would cry at night when my kids were sleeping. I would cry and pray for strength and the words that may or may not be necessary when it came time to tell everyone what was happening.

Handling my personal stress this way is something that has been present in me for way longer than I care to write about. Life for me, like a lot of people, has always been a struggle. There are too many heartbreaking things to even write about here because that is not what this post is about. Let's just say, as a child from 7 there were people in my life who didn't do the right things by me either out of fear or for their own personal gains. Whatever! That was then! I cannot change the past. I will never as long as I try no matter how much I change, pray, beg, be able to change MY past.

So...

When you feel like you can't; know that you can.

When you feel unloved or uncared for; know that you ARE loved! Someone loves you. You may not even be aware, or maybe you think they don't because things have changed. Maybe you haven't even met them yet. BUT there is someone who loves, will love or wants to love you.

If you are religious and believe in a higher power, YOU ARE LOVED.

When you feel like life is better off without you; know that LIFE is better! You are necessary! Maybe your best time hasn't happened. Things happen for a reason.

Whether the cause was someone else, something else, or even yourself. It will get better. It Will! I know because for more years than I care to write about, my life has taken so many twists and turns that I am amazed I can remain standing steady. With that said,  I am not surprised I am still standing steading. Life is hard for everyone. It is just different things that make it hard.

Being your best self doesn't mean having the newest boots. It doesn't mean having another person in your life to make you complete. Being your best self means, being YOUR personal best. It is your journey but do yourself a favor and do whatever you can to make your Journey the best for YOU!

Smile at another person today. You may be the only smile they see! While you are at it. Smile at yourself today. Walk up to the mirror and get to know yourself again. That person is pretty damn amazing.