I’ve noticed a trend in my little blogosphere. Some of my favorite bloggers seem to be going through some serious personal change — finding themselves, uncovering new realities, embracing the negative, and having general hard times. And maybe it’s just that “when it rains it pours” and sucky times rub off on each other. Or maybe it’s just that misery loves company and we all just commiserate. Or maybe, timing just sucks all around.
The beauty of the Internet is that we can all share our experiences, both good and bad, and there is always someone who can relate. There’s a caveat with being real on the Internet — sometimes, things aren’t always daisies and puppies and rainbows. Sometimes, shit sucks. Life sucks. Nothing goes right, everything goes wrong, and the seemingly only resolution is to turn to our readers and hope someone inspires us to get back on track. And more often than not, someone does. Someone is either going through the same issue or has been there before and can provide light and insight. We all lean on each other, and sometimes, the relative anonymity helps with feeling comfortable doing so.
And sometimes, we all need to check back into reality.
My friend Liz (who is going through a massively hard time, yet still remains one of the strongest women I’ve ever encountered) said to me on gchat yesterday, “Just remind me that this is normal and it’s a victory that I’m not in bed right now?”
Yes. Yes, it is a victory. Because sometimes, shit sucks so hard, we lose sight of the little things, the little victories that we forget to count as positives in our lives. We get so lost in all the negativity (and that’s ok, for a little while) that we become trapped by our own downward spiral.
Some people say I’m too positive. Always confident. Always seeing the sunbeams through the clouds no matter how threatening and dark they appear.
The reality is, I have breakdowns, too. Just ask Jessica who saw me cry at the office for the first time last week, or Casi who watched me down martinis and pizza and listened to my unformed sentences as I tried to clear my head. And that’s ok. But when that happens, we’re faced with a choice. Wallow or embrace.
I choose to embrace. Embrace the sadness, the feeling overwhelmed, the frustration. I think about all the wonderful people I have in my life who care and understand me. I think about everything I’ve achieved , everything I’m proud of. I let myself feel, but I don’t let myself drown. I pull myself up and remember, life is full of little victories.
Like Liz getting out of bed, like Elisa wanting a mud-hut, like Chelsea addressing her ex, like me finally writing about mine. These are all “little” victories, that add up and amount to big ones. And every victory should be acknowledged, no matter how insignificant it may seem. Heck, I painted the nails on my left hand without smudging them for the first time — if you’re a girl, you know that’s a HUGE victory.
What are the little victories in your life that keep you moving forward?
The excitement of a roadtrip with my bestie gets me through the long work days! As soon as I get internet I’m making GG download every N’SYNC and Hanson song. GET EXCITED!
I know! I’m so excited for our trip, and SO thankful you’re coming with me! Also, can’t wait for the trip down memory lane via music. EPIC times to be had.
Love you, girly!
Oh sister, I’ve noticed this too- so many of my girls on the web (and boys) are feeling pinned up again the wall, or are busy picking up the pieces, or trying to catch their breath, or trying to simply put one foot in fron of the other– it’s why I’m increibly grateful that we share these experiences together, good and bad. It’s a VICTORY to continue, to wake up, look at the scars and the scuffed up bits, or the pieces that need some rearranging and acknowledging them, working through them- keeping your chin up and surviving. Also, I ate four mini Reese peanut butter cups and that’s a victory because we all deserve more candy in our lives, I finally decided that this “ok.” REIGNING VICTORIOUS.
Cheers you beautiful ladies, and cheers to an amazing post.
The closeness and similarities between and among people (some whom have never even met) amazes me. And you’re right, it is a VICTORY to continue and we all need to remember that — with every step we take 🙂
Thanks for the comment, Chelsea. Looking forward to building another amazing friendship!
Thank you for reminding me of the little victories I/we achieve every.single.day…that sitting up in my pajamas is better than laying down in them…but sometimes LAYING DOWN is just fine too…
Sometimes I wonder what I’d do without our lil blog community-the strength I pull from you on a daily basis astounds me…I’m glad I’ll never have to live a Lauren free life 🙂
And I can’t paint my own nails, so I’m BOWING DOWN! WOOT!
I love you.
That’s what friends are for!!! I’m always here to remind you of whatever you need reminding of.
I’m the luckiest girl in the world to have such a strong community on the Interwebs. And I’m even luckier to have it in real life!
I’m new to your blog, but this is exactly what I needed to read today. Fantastic post!
Aww, yay! I’m glad to have you, and I’m even more glad you connected with this post. As I said, I think we all go through similar things and it’s so amazing how the Internet/blogosphere/twitterverse can unite us all. 🙂
What keeps me moving is knowing that if my Dad didn’t have the choice to keep moving or not to when Cancer decided that for him.
I just take every day as it comes and do what I can.
Aw, Ryan, I’m sorry to hear that. But it’s good you’re taking something positive out of the experience. Each day we grow and learn, and we always have to remember there’s always tomorrow and to take each little victory as it comes!
Yup….
Glad you can relate, per usual. 🙂