Yes, I know it’s difficult. Yes, I know it’s uncomfortable. But just do it already.
“But, I love me the way that I am”. If you’re at a point in your life in which you are happy with you, super duper. I’m not talking to you, so sit down and keep smiling. I am talking to those that might not be in a good place. The ones struggling with depression and anxiety. Yes, you.
I was in a depression a few months ago. I knew what was wrong but I was doing abso-damn-lutely nothing to get out of it. I had lunch with a good friend of mind and she asked me about dating. I told her that lunch with her was the closest to dating. She forced me to download the Bumble app. So I did. She forced me to create a profile and start swiping. So, I did. She’s a dear friend and I highly susceptible to peer pressure.
I found a few guys and sent a few messages. Not too long after I started, I met someone who I decided to start dating ,,, in person. It has been great. I am actually writing this as we are returning from the beach!!! Awesome.
Will this relationship last. I don’t know. I hope so because I am head over heels for this guy. If it doesn’t, I’m not worried. I will survive, nay thrive.
I said all of that to say this. I didn’t find my way out of the depression I was in until I changed what was going on.
“But I can’t change.”
Bullshit. Sorry about the language, but I don’t accept that. There are great things out in the world for you. Be brave enough to get them.
I am making the move to a little farmhouse this month. Those that know me are laughing at this change. I will have to flex my pioneer muscle which is very small.
I am also still in the infatuation stage with the guy I’m dating. The change here is the type of guy. He’s confident, he opens the car door for me, and he is easy going.
I find myself spending a lot of time smiling nowadays. There is so much going on that’s exciting. I am completely embracing the changes in my life. I have committed myself to being F.A.T. Flexible, adaptable, and teachable.
I was supposed to have had a date this Saturday night with the new guy. Supposed to being the important words in that last statement. He fell ill, and did not want to get me sick, so he called it off.
Now, even in my old age, my ego is fragile. The slightest hiccup in the road, and my negative self-talk gets on the bullhorn and shouts from the mountain.
Now, staying depressed is my go to in situations like this. I made other decisions though that moved me from survivor to someone who is thriving.
Surviving is crying in bed (check), spending too much money as a means of retail therapy (check), and lashing out at others (check).
Thriving is crushing 4 miles (running) for the first time in several years, being the loud mom at that baseball game. Thriving is telling the negative self-talk to shut the hell up. Thriving involves tacos and a margarita at the end of the night.
Even when you hit a setback, make the decision to overcome, kick ass, and take names.
Oh, and he was genuinely sick and we have a date scheduled for this week.
I was asked this morning by my youngest kiddo how I was able to get up so early in the morning. “I just do” was the best answer I had at the moment.
After dropping off kiddo #1 and kiddo #2 at school, I thought about what a shitty answer I gave my kiddo. “I just do” is not an answer. It was me rushing to get out the door and get them to school and myself to work.
I am by nature a night owl and will stay up until 11:00 pm or midnight. I then go to sleep and wake up at 5:00 am. It seems some mornings that I jump out of bed at 5:00 am as though I’m leaping into action.
This morning, I should have said, “Kiddo, I feel drive and motivation. I have goals to meet throughout my day and I begin to focus on them at 5:00 am. When you have something you want in life, you need to work towards it, and that starts the second you wake up”. I want my children to see me as motivated, not rushed. Driven, not busy.
