Today is a fairly new holiday… someone tweeted that there should be an International Day of Awesomeness and the Powers That Be commanded it to be set in stone. It’s also Chuck Norris’ birthday, so I think International Day of Awesomeness came into existence 71 years ago when Chuck was born. Chuck is the bomb.
I wrote about Chuck last year on his birthday so I’m not going to give a repeat performance. I could never top a prior post on any given topic anyway – that’s how awesome I am.
Yeah, I said it. I’m awesome. I’ve lived a lot of my life mired in a pit of self-despair and loathing. It stemmed from many things that happened during my life – being repeatedly thrown over the edge with little to no support – and I just never believed in myself. I wasted so much time thinking that I wasn’t awesome. Then I realized it’s all just a matter of perspective.
You are what you think you are. If you think you’re a victim in life, then that’s what you are. I’m not saying that bad things don’t happen – they absolutely do – but YOU choose how to deal with it. Everything happens for a reason. And while I really hate that cliched phrase and sometimes it makes me want to punch the person uttering it, it’s ultimately true.
Bad things happen. People die. Jobs are lost. Relationships fall apart. But if you can’t see past the bad and focus on the good then you are missing out on your awesomeness. I’m not saying these things don’t hurt. I’m not saying “man up and take it”. I’m saying mourn the sad things and embrace the happy things. So many of us gets stuck in the yuck that we can’t see our own awesomeness. Each and every one of us has the power to be awesome.
Gosh. I sound like I’m trying to be a motivational speaker. All I’m saying is that I’m tired of living a sub-standard life because I have believed that I didn’t deserve better. I won’t be living there anymore.
Last night, we went to an Ash Wednesday service at church. The sermon was on the whole “giving something up” for Lent versus becoming focused on your relationship with God. Instead of, say, giving up chocolate for 40 days, why not try deepening your relationship with God through prayer or getting involved with a charity or whatever taking that next step in your journey would look like. I’ve decided that I’m giving up being envious. I’m tired of wishing I had entirely different situations. I hate that my son has been battling NB for seven years, but it’s a fact. I can’t change it. So, instead, I’m embracing how he has taught me to be stronger. I’m celebrating all the young lives we’ve had the privilege to be a part of – even though we’ve lost some of those dear friends. I’m encouraged by how my writing about this pain has benefited so many others – those on the same journey and those following from the sidelines. Nobody has a better life than me. I’m going to stop being envious of those around me – those fancy new cars, gigantic new homes, kids that excel at everything, people who seem to have it all – I’m letting all that go. I have nothing to be envious of because my life is so rich.
I’m freaking awesome.
You are, too.
Stronger Than I Look 