Mid week Inspiration: It Get’s Better

This week I’m getting a little heavy. I have a lot of close friends going through rough times and this is for them.

The funny thing about character building situations is we never see them for that they are when we’re in them. They seem like a never ending black cloud that hovers above our heads, refusing to budge as bad luck and adversity dogs are every footfall. We wonder why us? What have we done to deserve such karma? Why is everyone else having such an easy time of things? No one understands how we fell. We practically revert to that high school mentality. How dare I say this? Because I’ve been there…many times. So I can say with one-hundred percent certainty it gets better. This is but a test, a moment in time that will pass and yield a stronger you and good fortune. They say it’s always darkest before the dawn because it’s true. Just around the corner is goodness, happiness, and joy. It’ll be that much sweeter for all you’ve gone through.

I want to share a story with everyone. When I was younger I didn’t fit into the mold, it’s why I related so much to punk rock music and lifestyle. To me then and now, punk was about being who you were and standing up for what you believe in. About not conforming to what society thought you should be doing and living for what felt right. I still believe that philosophy.

I’ve always felt like an old soul. My friends will agree. I was never the prettiest or the smartest but I had a sense of self, a vision of who I wanted to be and I refused to let others take that from me. I clung on to my beliefs, values and dreams like a drowning man hanging on to a life preserver. I continued to turn the other cheek, do my best to ignore heckling and be me.

I sound a bit melodramatic right now, perhaps, but I was picked on a lot. Why? Numerous reasons, all of them idiotic. ( I say that now as an adult, but oh it was painful then) I was a book worm. I spoke with proper English and big words, yet I was black. I dressed in an alternative manner and basically didn’t give a f$*k about what others were doing. Some of you are shaking your head right now and saying what does she mean? Well I was told I wanted to be white, I was “proper”. It’s ridiculous, I don’t understand it now and I didn’t then, but it happened. Still does I’m sure. I never understood why people expended so much energy to make others feel like crap. Didn’t they have anything better to do? They were the pretty popular folk… why not just be happy with that? Because they aren’t happy with their life and people envy strength, confidence and when your different they see it as a threat. ( Again things I wish I’d known then)

In the end I left school and my home town behind. I traveled, went to college and had a dozen different adventures I cherish and friends who loved me for me. I married my best friend, had two beautiful kids and I’m living my dream. I always wanted to stay at home with my children and write. It was one thing I was certain of; here I am doing just that. There were a lot of downs on this journey. Mountains that seemed insurmountable, days so dark I couldn’t see the light. Times I lay in bed and cried myself to sleep. But I made it through and you will too. You will rise above this situation eventually. I promise you things get better and people are kinder than we think.

I wanted to make a little soundtrack for those going through things.

It Gets Better:

Florence and the Machine :Shake it Up

Rise Against: Make it Stop

Don’t Panic: Cold Play

Let Go : Frou Frou

Let it Be: The Beatles

With a little help from my Friends :The Beatles.

These are just a few. I could go on but as usual this busy momma is strapped for time. For all of you going through something I encourage you to batten down the hatches, did your heels in and know it does get better, you can make a difference and people are kinder than we think. I urge you to talk to those you trust and care about. I’m sure we all have a story about overcoming something. I’d love to hear all about them.