Strong is beautiful...
It's such a silly, cliche thing to say. But also the most accurate phrase there is. You have to love yourself before anyone else can ever love you. Sometimes you need weeks, months, or even years in order to discover who you really are. For me this mainly consists of Taco Bell eating with just my pup at midnight, writing a book I never thought you would start, or even wine nights on a week night with some of my best friends.
"Truly find happiness within not only yourself, but also in others."
As the year anniversary of my Father's accident approaches, I can't help but to thank God each day for everything I have. I can't help but to thank God for all of the strength and blessings He has given me along this journey. I hit rough spots, I did. But those rough spots are what have gotten me to the high spots. I am so grateful. But it wasn't easy. This, in fact, has been the hardest years of my life. But here I am a year later and the happiest I've ever been. It's because I've allowed myself to let go of the pain, the resentment, and even the tears. You have to let go in order to be truly happy.
"If there is something you must know before I let you go; it is this: in your journey you will meet broken people, hateful people and people who have lost the sight for their glory. And the beauty of it all is this: I will tell you to love them, to love them deeply and show them how some of us still care. Never give up on them, for to give up on them is to destroy a reflection of OURSELVES." -R.M.Drake
In no way, shape or form is letting go easy, no matter what it is. These trials that we face will either make or break us. But I like to think rather deeper. Rather than making or breaking me, I will allow the trials that I have faced to shape me. The biggest barrier of letting go is moving on. This is not something our hearts easily permit us to do, and I, along with many others will testify this. But in order to move on, we must let go. Let go of all the negativity, doubt, and sadness. Instead, smile because whatever you have lost, you once had. You were privileged enough to have that impact on your life in order to grow stronger as a person. That is letting go. Letting go is taking risks you are normally not willing to take. Letting go is not missing out on everything and everyone that is right in front of you, because you are so stuck in the past. Most importantly, letting go is allowing yourself to step out of your comfort zone, whether it is comfortable or not.
"Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game."
Dabble widely. Take a road trip with best friends. Eat as much pizza as humanly possible. Stay up til 3 a.m. with your best friends laughing about all the dumb stuff you've done in the past. Smile because you can. :~)
