Normalize People With Chronic Illness Taking Sick Days, Coming In Late, Cancelling Plans, Not Being Able

Let me ask you a question, and be honest. Can you tell me, among all of the people that you know, how many of them are genuinely happy?

I asked myself this question earlier in the day and the answer is quite disturbing.

Not that many. Just a few of them. Most of my loved ones are struggling. Are having a rough time. Are feeling stressed, anxious, unmotivated, sad. Need support, understanding, time. And that is okay.

What I want to emphasize is that I believe we should cherish every little joy, every pleasant day, every warm smile that we experience. Because they can be so rare. Collect those precious moments within your heart and who knows, one day, you might end up exactly where you've always wanted to be.

You might have disappointed some people; this doesn’t mean you are a disappointment.

you might not have have met some people’s needs; this doesn’t mean you are a failure.

you might not have received the love you needed; this doesn’t mean you are unlovable. just because you did not meet other people’s expectations doesn’t mean you are fundamentally flawed or a waste of space. You are a human who is growing and learning and trying again.

“Close some doors. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because they no longer lead somewhere.”

— Paulo Coelho

I will act as your wings if you fall and continue to carry you until you can carry yourself.

- Extract from the book i’ll never write

Don’t hold the younger you to the standards you hold yourself to today. You didn’t know as much. You were in a different headspace, with different things affecting and scaring you, facing challenges that seemed big at the time. Maybe you were even lonelier. What’s important is that you know better now, and you know more now. That’s something to move forward with, not something to curse the past with.

Han Kang, from The Vegetarian

“Crystallize your goals. Make a plan for achieving them and set yourself a deadline. Then, with supreme confidence, determination, and disregard for obstacles and other people’s criticisms, carry out your plan.”

—

Paul J. Meyer

No matter what tries to get in your way - or who attempts to talk you out of your dreams - decide how you need to make them happen, and stick to it.  Let your determination block out all of the negative as you keep reaching higher.  You WILL get there.  :o)

“You don’t want to wake the dragon, do you?” // Don’t make me angry…

“The frightened child who sheltered in my manse died on the Dothraki sea…” // That frightened little girl died in Ann Arbor, MI; in Washington, DC; in Oxford, England.

“I must be strong. I must have fire in my eyes when I face them, not tears.” // Don’t let them see, don’t let them know how much they hurt you. Stop wasting your emotional energy on people who don’t care about you. Attorneys don’t cry, they get revenge.

“Why do the gods make kings and queens, if not to protect the ones who can’t protect themselves?” // Why did I become an attorney, if not to fight to make the world better for those who can’t?

“If I look back I am lost.” // Why I am I still waiting for apologies I know I’ll never get?

“She is the queen we chose.” // All I’ve ever wanted in my life is to be someone’s first choice. For once in my life, not to be an afterthought. To be the best friend, not just a friend. The one who’s always there, no matter what, swallowing her pride and her hurt, finally invited instead of just included. The one who’s always checking in on others, finally having someone check in on her. The one who’s always telling people she loves them, finally being told she’s loved too.

things that seem small can be really brave:

getting up in the morning

asking for help

stopping when you know you’ve pushed yourself too hard

admitting when you were in the wrong

forgiving yourself

making an effort even when you don’t have the motivation

reaching out to others when you feel alone

+ much more