The Joys of Your Mess

CHANGE AND THE UNEXPECTED

Life didn't turn out the way I expected. In fact, no one's life turns out the exact way that they expect it to, and that's okay.  I would be lying if I said I was happy about all the hardships I have been through. I would also be lying if I said there weren't any lessons to be learned from them. Life seems to have a way of constantly surprising you. Even if you think you know what will happen next, one little thing can change it all. I don't know about you, but I am NOT a fan of change. I also know that change is inevitable so I have to learn to be okay with it. I am learning that change can either be a curse or an opportunity to learn and grow. The choice is ours. If I were perfect, I would always choose the learn and grow option, but I am imperfect and sometimes let change weigh me down. I am learning as I go and am happy that I have the opportunity to keep moving forward even when it is hard for me. 

EMBRACE THE MESSY

Life is messy for everyone. Sometimes after I get to know someone and they share with me their story, I do not feel so alone in life. I begin to realize that I am not the only one who is hurting. I have always felt that something was wrong with me because I am "too sensitive" but there is no such thing. My feelings are valid and so are yours. Even if others do not agree with them. :) I have been called "too nice", and it used to make me feel bad. But the older I got, the more I realized I would rather be seen as "too nice", than "not caring enough". So, here is some ENCOURAGEMENT: be okay with who Jesus made you to be. There is always room for improvement, but you should never change who you are because of what others think about you. Embrace things that come to you in life. Good or bad. Both will happen but it is how we choose to react to those things that matter the most. 

DID I DO SOMETHING WRONG?

One of life's greatest mysteries is that You don't have to do anything wrong for you to have struggles in your life. Everyone struggles one way or another in their lives just in very different ways. I have had my fair share of struggles in life. When I shared with someone some of my struggles, I felt judged and like they were afraid of me. I took it personally, but I am learning that they didn't have knowledge of what I was dealing with so I should have just ignored their negative response to me and kept moving forward. Instead, I let their thoughts about me define me. A couple years later, I shared with her how she made me feel and she saw where I was coming from and apologized. So one thing about me is that I am a really good grudge-holder. I had held onto the pain that she caused me for a couple years rather than just talking to her. Now I see how silly that was of me!! After we talked, we both understood where the other was coming from. So if you have a hard time communicating your feelings, I suggest you just DO IT! Rip it off like a band aide and you will feel so much better. 

YOU WILL BE OKAY

If there were a few short words I could say to my younger self it would be these words. You will be okay. So often in life, we always feel like we are alone. But I think if people were more open and honest with one another we would see that we are not the only ones who feel alone or lost in life at times. And it is actually normal for people to feel this way throughout their lives. I like to think of it as growing pains. :) We really all have the same goal in life, right? To be happy and healthy! So, if no one has told you this lately: You will be okay. Hang in there and be strong for the people who love you if you can't be strong for yourself. 

What a life we get to live.