Sorry I
don't have any preamble for you today. Today I only feel like
digging right in. Strap your belts tight, 'cause I'm on one!
Life is
so crazy, so unpredictable, and so unfair that it makes it very easy
for us to forget that we're not all bad. Even if we've had a string
of successes coupled with a mountain of accomplishment, it only takes
one or two major set-backs for us to forget it all. With that bee
sting of a disappointment we quickly forget about all the pats on the
back we received from friends, family members, and kind supporters
not all that long ago. With all that forgotten and now thrown out
the window all we're sitting with is a bag of sour grapes and a tub
of rotten tomatoes. Not at all appetizing, and no matter how hard we
try the stinch of it all does nothing but bring more sadness,
disappointment and misery. “What the hell, man! What's up with
this disgustingly rancid odor that seems to be overtaking my life?!?
Who am I right now? Why is it one bad thing after another all of a
sudden? Can I do anything right? Holy smokes! I feel like I'm
drowning! Will someone toss me a life preserver?
Someone...anyone...please...”
Ever
been there? Ever felt like you were drowning in your own shit?
Every felt like no matter how hard you tried to put one foot in front
of the other, life kept on slapping you in the face and thrusting
back five spaces? Ever look around and see smiling faces and because
you feel so rotten about yourself you can't even be happy for a
fellow friend? That is an awful place to be, but you're not alone.
And I may not have all the answers, but I've got a cure for you
today. When I was going through a rough patch a friend said to me,
“Jaz, you've got to fall in love with YOU again. You have to
remind yourself why you're great.” And that's the advice I'm
passing to you. Watch this.
Grab a
pen and paper because I need you to write. Write out what you've
accomplished in your life to date. Things that you're proud of.
You're welcome to go back as far as you like. As a matter of fact,
the farther back you go, the better. Jot it all down...
– voted
Most Likely to Succeed in high school
– crowned
Homecoming King
– captain
of the ________ team
– graduated
high school with honors
– successfully
completed a 2-year, 4-year college/university
– earned
a ________ degree
– earned
a ________ certification
– purchased
your first home
– purchased
your first, second, third car
– payed
off a large amount of debt
– received
recognition for a project that you created or managed
– received
a substantial raise/promotion at work
– raising
happy, healthy child(ren)
– survived
a traumatic medical situation
– served
on the board of civic group/organization
– small
business owner
I don't
know you, but you know you, and I want you to write it all down, and
then recite the list to yourself. Look at it. Study it. This is
you. All of this is you. I've got a friend that's always saying to
me, “Well...I look good on paper.” My response? WAKE UP!!!
That's you!! All of that on that paper is you! It's not the
guy/girl across the street. It's not your classmate. It's not your
mom or dad. All of that is YOU, and it's all worth being proud of.
Are you kidding me??? There are so many people that'd kill to have
just one or two of your accomplishments. You are awesome, and you're
doing awesome work. Your only problem is that you let that bee sting
of a situation bring you down...so far down that you completely
forgot who you were. Well I'm here to tell you, no – command you –
to stop it now. Enough of that. Post your paper of accomplishments
somewhere where you'll be able to see them everyday, because that's
the you that the world sees. Those things that are listed on that
paper, that's all anyone else sees. That paper goes before you,
representing you like a calling card. So if you thought you were an
unaccomplished loser – sorry. That's just not the case. So what
you need to do is wrap your head around it and begin to understand
what everyone else already knows. We all know who you are on paper,
do you?
My name
is Jasmynne Shaye, and this is me STEPPING
ON A FEW TOES.
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