Dear Everyone,
I think it's time we got honest. I think it's time we spend as much energy sharing the most disappointing moments of our lives as we do sharing the most joyous. Frankly I'm exhausted with people celebrating graduations, a baby's first steps, engagements, and birthdays instead of highlighting moments that really suck. Like failing a test, being fired, or losing your wallet (again).
Now I'm not a sadist -- I'm actually a self-proclaimed idealist. However, all of the hyper-connected sharing of perfectly filtered pictures of perfect moments just doesn't fit this imperfect world.
Fact is, life isn't perfect and neither are we. More often than not, we fail; we make an attempt and fall right on our face. The fall leaves us bruised and adorned with scratches -- maybe even a scar at worse. All in all, even if for a moment we feel defeated.
If you're like me, you'll play a Spotify playlist and dance your cares away until you're tired, dejected and your cares catch back up with you. Minutes after fatigue consumes you, you'll be face down in something (hopefully soft) like a rug or bed comforter, sobbing profusely.
Now is the most important moment: Crying. Cry hard! Cry soft! Just. Cry. It's perfectly OK. It's damn right expected. You worked hard, and your efforts were unrequited. For a moment, you have the right to scream and shout. Kick your legs if you'd like. Just don't stay here!
After you're done crying, you'll probably feel numb. You'll sit with your disappointments, and despondency will creep in. As doubt wraps itself around you, everything will seem vain. You'll then engage yourself in an existential debate, where you will question both your existence and purpose.
After which you'll try fall asleep but wrestle with reality. The next day, you'll wake up bitter and resentful. You've done everything right and by the book. How could life do this to you?
Unfortunately life has no regard to you, your feelings or experiences. Life simply "is." Our choice is whether or not we accept life "to be."
During your recovery, friends and family will surround you. They'll offer words of encouragement, unsolicited advice, free lunch dates and endless hugs. Take them all, especially the lunch dates.
Days or weeks later you'll begin to regain your strength. As you stand to your feet, you'll dust off your doubts, fears and insecurities promising yourself that you won't pick them back up again. You'll walk back into your closet to bring out your armor of hope, your sword of strength and helmet of resilience.
But before you head out the door, just remember that you're still human and like everyone else, you're not only susceptible to failure but you're resilient, as well. You're an overcomer gilded with the scars of your falls; entrusted with a purpose; and blessed with a story of victory. So yes, you do fail just like everyone else, but also like everyone else you'll come back stronger than before.