“You over analyze things” – undeniably so. We go from not wanting parts of someone without having all of them to realizing that maybe having parts of someone is better than not having any parts of them at all. Interesting how in just a few short weeks the mindset has changed knowingly or unknowingly.
Thank others for choosing to stay – somehow it should mean a great lot. In friendships and everything beyond that.
Actions speak louder than words. People make time for who they want to make time for. No one is ever too busy to text back or check in one you occasionally. If you’re important to them these things will come naturally. It won’t feel like you require a lot of attention. You won’t be tasked with wondering if you’re a burden/annoyance or whatever. Remember.
Damn, can we catch a break?
It’s taken me a few weeks to process what’s been happening in the world. This virus has had us on an insane rollercoaster ride. It went from being a hoax to a monster demolishing our health and economy. With a majority of the state shut down in response to COVID-19 many people get to stay home but my job is considered essential for the health and wellbeing of the citizen in the state so I’ve been going into work everyday as I normally would. This thing is almost like a silent killer for the contagious period where people may show no symptoms. You simply don’t know who has it around you and I think that’s the most challenging part.
All over the world people have been in a panic over this virus. From not having adequate testing and safety equipment to panic shopping – it’s gotten out of hand. People are dying whether it’s just another strain of the flu or whether it’s not. The virus is easily transmitted whether it’s like flu or not. Nurses and doctors risk their lives and possibly infecting their families and loved ones for those who are ill whether it’s like the flu or not.
Today I went grocery shopping thinking I would pick up a few things that I’m running low on and I couldn’t stand being out for more than 15 minutes before getting angry about the condition I saw the stores in. I saw empty shelves and bare necessities are nowhere to be found. That made me severely aggravated because I thought about those who are worst off than I am. I figured if I’m not completely out of the items I was looking for at home and I was that aggravated then I could only imagine what others who are more desperate than I am are feeling. I can only imagine how the elderly are feeling distraught not finding what they need on top of the fear of picking up the virus. I can only imagine what the new mother is feeling not able to find wipes for her two week old baby.
Unemployment rates are higher than ever and so much is unknown about the future. Many businesses have closed and it’s sad to see so many be affected by this. In a time when it’s so easy to be consumed by fear and uncertainty we must remain hopeful.
Be kind to one another and in times like these help each other.
50/50 is bullshit. Someone is always expected to give more of themselves. Don’t be fooled.
Everyone loves a good mystery. Is it possible to be infatuated by intrigue? I would like to believe so but sometimes I just feel too far into my thoughts.
Many people are naturally fascinated or intrigued by a proverbial stranger. Lack of knowledge about a person allows our imagination to run wild.
Our own perception can be the most dangerous part I feel. This is so because our perception may allow us to look at a person and their actions in a more favorable light than deserved. People keep secrets for many reasons. One being avoiding commitment or becoming entangled emotionally. Ironically though, the tactics people use to avoid intimacy are typically the driving forces in what makes them more desirable.
Mysterious strangers prefer to focus on the physical and keep relationships as casual as possible rather than incorporating sexual partners into their everyday lives.
It’s important to be aware of these mysterious strangers. It’s important to be cautious and not allow the unknown to cloud our vision. Secrets stand in the way of so many things. The upside to that though is that some people are secretive not because they are living double lives or are unfaithful but because of insecurities and even fear of rejection. People are also not as forthcoming with information they feel will cast them into a bad light.
Either way, in these situations only time will tell whether the mystery was worth getting sucked into or not.
The year has been off to an interestingly rocky start to say the least. It’s taken quite a bit of time for me to even write down my thoughts because they’ve been so scattered. From Circles being released to Kobe passing there’s been a lot to digest. There’s been a lot of emotions and I just haven’t been able to put them into words.
Emotions of sadness, grief, confusion and peace. Emotions that all have contradicted each other one way or another and emotions that I constantly feel shouldn’t be felt but yet they are.
Circles by Mac was released and it’s still heavy on the rotation. Not because anyone’s depressed but because I feel it grants comfort. After Mac passed there were so many questions and to hear the music he left behind made me feel a sense of comfort knowing I got to hear where his head was at the time of his death. Also because it gives me hope for the way his story would’ve turned out had he had just made it through that night.
Kobe’s passing is a different kind of sadness than I felt when Mac died. Kobe was an inspiration for many athletes whether they played basketball or not. Growing up basketball was an important part of my life. I remember every recess in grades 3rd-8th, I always got the basketball and I would shoot hoops while the other kids played four square and kickball. I didn’t care if I was the only kid shooting hoops or if others wanted to play that day. I wasn’t a loner by any means but my passion for perfecting my shooting skills went farther than my interest in kickball or four square. Years went on and even though I didn’t play the sport on a team anymore I still occasionally shot around in the backyard. Saying all of that to say this, Kobe’s death reignited the love I had for the game. The last couple of weeks I’ve had the urge to pick up a ball and just shoot. The joy every swish brought was and still is like no other.
Kobe’s passing is one that will always feel surreal. But I can say I took one good thing away from the tragic situation and it’s remembering the reasons I devoted every recess to perfecting my shot.
Long live the Mamba.
There’s that saying that says if it’s meant to be it will be. It’s been on my mind a bit lately. We drift from people and that could be a combination of friends and family but sometimes we have an opportunity to pull the pieces back together and reconnect and that can never be taken for granted. Sometimes you can jump right back into where things left off but other times you wade through a bit of knee deep water before things feel like they’re back to what they were. Essentially, years go by and people change but even with that it’s still possible to rekindle a friendship. There are those rare cases when so much time has passed that rekindling a friendship just isn’t worth the effort. Not necessarily saying there are ill intentions or bad blood but we’re just on different paths and going in different directions. The key is being prepared for either one of those outcomes regardless of what you really want.
This year and the decade overall has been filled with many ups and downs for me. To make a very long story short I lost myself, I lost friends, I lost loved ones, I’ve been abused, I’ve been the abuser, I’ve wallowed in my misery, I’ve brushed my shoes off and kept walking, I’ve been broken and I’ve been in repair. The repair process has been a journey that I needed to embark on alone and without any of the experiences I wouldn’t have the strength I need to keep going. I’ve come to terms with everything. Everyday I see more and more that all of those things happened for a reason. Reasons that I wouldn’t have understood then but I’m proud of the personal growth and self love that this decade of ups and downs has allowed me have.
One important thing I learned this year is that it’s okay to mourn. Sometimes we grieve the living. Things change.
V
Over the last 4 years I’ve spend a lot of time analyzing the way things could’ve turned out different. Analyzing all the choices that were made and how situations could’ve been handled differently. For years I blamed myself for mishandling the situation and as a result costing myself someone I valued quite a bit.
Time went on and as they say time heals all wounds. The disappointment in myself lessened. I learned different ways to handle similar situations if I were to ever find myself in that situation again. I made peace with my choices and the outcomes of consequences I had to live with. I accepted how life was after the fact.
Now, I feel I have a privilege I never saw coming or planned for. In some ways I’m sort of slightly freaking out because I don’t know where to go from here. I know what direction I want things to go in but I’m not sure that’s even possible. I know what I want but I’m not sure the ball is in my court in that sense. I don’t think I’m in a position to really call the shots. With that being said, I don’t want to let this chance slip through my fingertips.
One day at a time, eh?
Overall, this Christmas was the best one I’ve had in quite a few years. I’m thankful for the level of understanding that was displayed by members of the family. I’m thankful for the quality time spent. I’m thankful for all the laughter and banter. I feel truly blessed as this year winds down.
This holiday is usually just another one where there are certain family members that are not around either because they are in a different part of the world and couldn’t be present or because of death. While their presence will always be missed a day like today is really one where you just take in everything around you. Appreciate what’s right here and now in front of you. Here’s to hoping someday we’re all in the same geographic location.
I can only hope the ones not here due to death have found peace and are resting easy. While trying to enjoy the moment H you are not forgotten.
Thankful for forgiveness also.. hearing from someone I haven’t spoken to in a long time was unexpected but forgiveness is everything.
Tomorrow the 26th marks four years. How time has passed.. and how things have changed for the better. Cheers.
So anxiety is a bitch. I spent all day having nervous breakdowns and worrying about how things would be at this Christmas Eve party just to show up and have it be better than my anxiety could’ve allowed me to imagine. Needless to say, I’m glad that the day ended the way it did. I’m glad I was able to overcome my anxiety for one night. That’s literally all I can do. One day at a time.
The holiday season is supposed to be filled with joy, love and family. It’s easy to lose sight of that on top of all the rituals and obligations that we may feel we have to participate in. Seeing family and friends that I haven’t seen much throughout the year has my anxieties on the max level today. I fear the unknown you could say. Not knowing how those at this gathering will react seeing me for the first time in months. Not knowing if they’ll understand the distance and my reasoning for loving my solitude. Not knowing if I’ll be judged for the amount of time I can manage to be there for emotionally. All of these things make it seem so much easier to stay home and protect my mental space. With that option though comes the awkward tensions on the true day of the holiday and no one understanding why protecting my mental space is so important. Families can think that it’s good to be gathered together but while it’s good for most there are people like me who honestly would rather do nothing at all. It slightly annoys me that at this time no one can wish that people do what is the best thing for them. We may not understand why but I think that family should be supportive of whatever another member needs in order to be healthy, in order to get through the holidays and in order to enjoy the holiday season however they choose. People don’t seem to be aware of how much harm the obligations and traditions can do to a person’s mental health and here’s to hoping for holiday seasons that aren’t filled with a ton of pressure in the future.
It’s not always obvious when people do not have your best interest in mind. When someone’s ill-intentions are made clear personally, my brain opts to sever ties. I find it hard to allow someone to be apart of my life knowing that they do not have my best interest at heart. I’ve gotten to a stage in life where I strive to surround myself with people who genuinely want the best for me. People who share common interests, mutual goals and a ton of positivity. I find it not beneficial for my mental health to be surrounded by anything other than that. When I’m in a situation that makes me feel that I may not be surrounded by people 100% in my corner my anxiety is usually through the roof. Being a Leo, I have the tendency to never take people off my shit list once they’ve found themselves on it. To me, if you’re not a friend or have my best interest at heart you’re an enemy or someone I need to watch my back with at all times and that never changes.
Seasonal depression is more real than people tend to admit. The holiday season is supposed to be filled with joy and a ton of bonding experiences with family and friends. There are gift giving obligations and various dinners and brunches. While that is all good it’s easy to forget that in the midst of that can be severe depression and anxieties are at an all time high.
Not everyone spends this time of the year surrounded by family or friends. Sometimes it’s not that people choose to be alone it’s that it’s their only option. For some this time of the year can be the most dreaded. For some this time of the year is the one time self consciousness is through the roof. For some this time of the year can be a time of mourning and grieving lost loved ones.
If you know someone who has seemed distant during this time be conscious of the fact that emotions are usually at an all time high this time of the year. With all that’s expected everything can easily become overwhelming.
P and I were in Jersey for 3 days and normally business trips are chaotic or so they feel with the new city and drastic change in day to day routines. This trip was different. I felt good about everything that happened. I feel that we’re making progress for the first time. It’s one thing to be able to spend time with someone and truly find value in the time spent and it’s another thing to feel burdened by the person’s presence.
Something’s changing. I feel more safe. I feel valued and appreciated just a little bit more than I did before.
Everyday we learn to adapt more and more to one another and I know if the foundation is solid longevity is guaranteed.
Making Something Out Of Nothing 