Sometimes you just need to cry, scream, be silent or avoid. Whether you are dealing with a loss, major transition in your life or day-to-day activities; there is no right way to handle it (outside of ensuring you and others are not harmed through the process). Life is messy and being human and vulnerable sometimes isn’t pretty. But it is real and important to go through it. I hope you have at least one person who you can be vulnerable with that truly gets what that is like and is able to support and empower you while you are in the middle of dealing with a difficult situation.
I am going to cough up that I have not been practicing what I have been “preaching”/ sharing. I have shared about be grateful, saying yes to love and contribution and being present in the day-to-day moments but the last few weeks or really a month; I have been stressed, exhausted and physically unhealthy. Through to my early 30s, I spent most of my life in this space. This shifted in the last few years; however, recently I easily fell back into it. I have not upheld promises I have made and I have not done what I said I would in all of the areas of my life including being true to who I have become.
Why am I coughing that up? This week I have been around people in my life that are dealing with some profound traumas, emotions and transitions in their life. Being able to witness what they are bravely dealing with has brought perspective back to my life. Throughout my life, I have experienced a number of people die including jointly caring for my mom with my dad before she passed away as well as a lot of transition and major changes. I really believe that I went through all of that to be able to support and empower others in dealing with similar situations. I get to be a safe space and person to talk to and I get to help walk with them through their journey. And I can’t do any of that if I’m being stressed, exhausted and physically unhealthy. So tomorrow is a new day and I will be starting mine being unstoppable in my health and well-being so that I can empower and support others in whatever they are dealing with even if that is just by saying “Hi” with a smile.
I experienced sharing as being the most important part of moving through a huge life change or trauma. I know most of the people in my life including me had been taught from a young age that sharing and showing any vulnerability is a weakness. But I have found when you are with people that care for and support you; sharing and being vulnerable is the key to moving through and dealing with what is happening in your life. The power in sharing and being vulnerable is realizing that you are not alone in your experiences and emotions. And having those people in your life is crucial for “staying sane” in life (staying sane can look different for everyone). It is crucial to know that you are not alone and have others that get it.