Happy Monday! A brand new day, the start of a new week and another opportunity to hit your marks. Take the steps in which you set your own pace and Let all that you create and desire be the reflection of you rather than of others in the process.
It is really easy to get caught up in the rat race of life. Some of us are still trying to catch up with our family, our peers, perhaps comparing our paths to others and their walks of life. When you find yourself in this mindset, just remember that no ones path is paved the same. There is nothing to compare even if you wanted to evaluate a set of twins. Sometimes it is easy to fall in to the impatience of our wants, especially if there are people that depend on us, or simply that you fully depend on yourself.
I have fallen into this a couple of times. As a single woman, and again as a single mother. When I was in my early 20’s, I was really fascinated by those I knew who had a few points of success where I was still going to school. Young, purchasing their first home, going into their graduate program, or simply have already lived the social life and world discoveries that I have really yet to find. I definitely thought at certain moments that I was living my best life, only because I compared better times against the hardest of times. However, this was not living my best life. I was providing myself a void by trying to keep up with a time that really wasn’t mine. I had no choice but to take baby steps in life. I was discovering independently my available tools to navigate the roads that were unknown to me at that time. I had to build a report with myself in order to fully understand where it was I was desiring to go. I have always had wants and goals, but my roads ahead of me where bumpy, sometimes I had to stop and get gas, I was lost a few times and had to make a u-turn, or even stop and ask for help. These were all experiences that helped me sufficiently travel and gain the immunity each and every time towards something that was foreign or not preferred. There were times where my immune system felt attacked, taking steps of recovery, becoming stronger to fight and conquer. These steps may seem to slow down during these periods of times, but you have to trust that these times are meant for your journey. The bigger the goal (s) the longer and bumpier the roads and this is the way you are building strength and stamina to power glide over your mark when you have reached it.
If you wanted to sit and look at a checklist of all the things that could possibly make others look great on paper, go ahead.. All that you are doing is only turning into your own wrecking ball coming through and demolishing all that you have to continue going for yourself. Maybe your best friend is engaged, siblings are having their first children, colleague getting that promotion before you, all while you are still single, feeling that you are working twice as hard, or maybe you are not working enough. Perhaps you are that person who wants a career change, a life change. There is a process to that too. This takes time. Your time becomes available to you based on your individual needs and perhaps wants too.
I never really paid attention to the irrelevant differences of others because I had no choice but to keep tunnel vision and my eyes on the prize. My goals were specific, I wanted to complete a higher education, continue to pursue my passion for my talents, and truthfully speaking to myself, I wasn’t physically or mentally ready to join all of the things that built this societal hype and expectations. I became assure of myself in a way that I was only motivated to find resources rather than outlets. I was rested and comfortable in my walk. I not only understood myself a bit better along the way, but every step of the way was lead by the greater faith it took to accept the What, where, and whys of it all too. What you may think you lack are only windows of more time and opportunity given to reach your much larger and long term goals that will be the support to the smaller ones. Moments that you couldn’t have otherwise f your story was told different. There is not a depot to paint or decorate when the foundation is complete nor the support walls to uphold them. Much of these decorations that you first notice on the surface, especially of others, you do not know how strong the support beams are as they individually differ.
Have the confidence with knowing exactly how you taken your steps and what you can expect with your anticipated outcome. Don’t get ahead of yourself on final results when you don’t have the complete equation. Take your time to evaluate and solve for a best and accurate result. Do not stand to be shy next to your neighbor, but remain outgoing with all that you stand for and how your relevance makes your amazing story told. In the mean time, always unite with your community, utilize your resources, build a bridge with one another and walk together as you continue to build and move forward. A rock solid foundation is needed to last a lifetime, and it is the way you are able to live your best life. In order to get there, you have to first live your best goals. All else will follow! Take all else that you see to provide your walk with a scenic route. You still have so much more to go and your final view is the larger piece of art that was developed for even a more enjoyable presence. Happy travels and embrace your journey!
-Amanda Marie Wilkinson
Unity With Community 