To Look Up, You Have to Look Down
Lately, things have been looking up for me in terms of my personal, social and professional world.
Sometimes I am pinching myself because I shed the imposter syndrome and am actually soaking in the glow of my work.
My decades of trying have finally become my years of results.
But with these moments of joy, I can’t help but remember enduring many dark days, hard times and scary hurdles.
Even though some days were extremely hard and I wanted to throw in the towel, quit my goals and start over with something easier… I couldn’t.
Why?
Because I had people counting on me, believing in me and encouraging me.
The “fear monster” inside me didn’t stand a chance against my people.
My community.
My foundation.
Sometimes I think if I was left to my own devices I would have stayed in that factory, accepted that abusive boyfriend and continued to pollute my body — but I was never left to the wolves.
Everywhere I went, someone somewhere saw the light inside me.
I don’t know what I did to deserve this beautiful community of support, but it really has made my life become what it is.
My community has given me meaning, held a mirror to my ego and grounded me when I needed it.
My community has gifted me opportunities and options, and recently the ability to see the light in others.
When I see people now, I see their potential, their passion and their drive.
I can’t help but tell everyone all of the good things I see for them in the future, and most times – I am the first person to tell them these things.
It makes me realize how lucky I was to have guardian angels in my life as grew, most of them who will never know how much they positively impacted me.
So, today — whether they can read this or not, I just wanted to thank my partners, teachers, mentors, friends and colleagues for believing in me and journeying with me through my personal and professional growth in the past few of years.
It’s been a wild ride from the driver’s seat, so I can only imagine what my passengers were thinking.
No one can truly see themselves as others see them – so thank you for seeing the best in me. Thank you for seeing me through the darkness.
I won’t forget the struggles though. They are part of my story. They are part of who I am.
So whoever needs to hear this:
Hang in there.
Don’t give up on yourself or your dreams.
If one door closed, there are windows, paths and open fields ahead.
It might not even be a door you’re looking for, it might not even be something that exists yet.
The worst days will give you some of your greatest lessons.
Tomorrow is a new day and with each new day is another opportunity to try again, learn, improve and move forward.
You are not alone, and despite what your dark passenger is telling you:
You can do this.
You will endure and you will one day get to look back on it all and be thankful for the journey.
