Reflections...

Here is a little positivity anecdote for you. How many of you are your own worst enemy? How many of you beat yourselves up for it as well? Ugh - I know that I do! I find myself having these moments where writing my thoughts just flows and then I fall back into finding a thousand other things to do. I have to stop getting in my own way. Or do I? Perhaps when I am "getting in my own way", it is my subconscious way of telling myself to slow down and to take a breath. Who knows? I glance at Instagram or FB and sometimes fall for the illusion that everyone else has it together, has the "perfect" life...you know the drill. Then I beat myself up for not living up to society's expectations, only to take a moment to look around and the richness that is my life! Family, a home, food on the table, clothes on my back (and in the laundry), things (clutter) and more things, and friends who get me (or put up with me (lol).

Did I just put an LOL in there? Anyway, I have been doing some reflecting lately. Shocked? There are some incredible people in my life and I just want to say thank you to you all! Did you know that in 2 months time, I will have taken my last Tamoxifen pill? I can't believe it has been 5 years! So much has happened since that fateful day in December, 2015 when I heard those awful words, "you have breast cancer". Since then the rollercoaster of life really did a lot of twisting and turning. It went upside down, backwards and full speed ahead. The entire time.

The amount of love and support that I have received (you know who you are) has been amazing. During that time, I have (unfortunately) paid it forward by listening to, talking with, and crying with so many other women who had to hear those same crappy words.

I started to blog - then stopped - and trying to start again. It's not as easy as some people make it look. Here I go again, beating myself up and comparing myself with "others". Nope, not falling into that trap again.

If there is one thing I have learned over the last few years, it's that I will make mistakes, I will figure out how to fix the mistakes, I will move forward, and likely make more mistakes in the future. I am not going to vow to write every day moving forward. I do promise to write and spread positivity as much as possible.

I guess instead of beating myself up and continuing to be my own worst enemy, I will continue to fight for positivity and kindness. I always feel better after writing, even when I write about emotional topics. I typically bring it back to how important it is to teach the next generation how to be kind and to find positivity in all situations. I will do that again and again.

So, to close, please remember to check in with someone in your life. It might be your kids, it might be a relative, it might be a friend that you have not seen or spoken to in many years. Just the little step will make you feel better. It's hard to know what others are going through and not everyone spills their guts every moment of every day. Many people keep things to themselves for fear of being criticized, or just don't know how to ask for help. This happens soooo much with teens. Check on the teens in your life. Please continue to gain an understanding of who their friends are. Please continue to keep those lines of communication clear and open. It really does make a difference to them - even if they are not in the mood to talk. Just knowing that they have you in their camp is sometimes all they need!

To all who have read this post, I hope that you were able to connect to even a small part. I hope that you were able to reflect and check in with someone as a result. Love you all!

Thanks for listening! xoxo