This is when they start to just glaze over. Or if they are even allowed to ask these things. But you can see it on their faces. They want to know. They want to know my secrets. They want to know the formula. They want to know how I got the great job. Or how I found the love of my life. And like, for reals this time! They want to know what they need to do to get the family, the kids, all of it. So here it is. Enough of the run around.
You want to know my secret? My secret to being so darn happy? My secret to being able to pick myself up off the ground after watching everything I had worked so hard to keep together come crashing down around me? First, I learned to give myself the grace I so freely extended to others. It may sound easy, but try it.
Or the last time you said something nice about yourself? Yourself included. Next, I learned to make the mistakes I was afraid to make before.
And believe me, I made a ton. No, like really. A ton. Because dating after 30 is horrible but totally worth it! And then I learned to help others when I could. I learned how to give back. How to do what I could with what I had. Next, I learned to be okay with not being right all of the time. The way the ex left it was really easy for me to justify all of my not-so-good qualities.
I hid behind his mistakes. I learned to try things. Things I had been scared of before. Like eating alone. Or going on a date for the first time in 10 years. I tried new foods whenever I could. I slept with the TV on. And then off. I slept on the right side of the bed. And then the left. I learned to be okay with being scared. Try saying it out loud- it will change your life. I learned that I was worthy of love. Yes, love from others, but mostly and especially love from myself.
