Happy Trails!

Goood morning!!!

Well, Shhh… How y'all doing?


Looking at your life, right now. Are you happy?


I'm sure that there are some things that you would like to change, but are you happy?


The Human Beings that you choose to surround yourself with, are they bringing you joy? Or are they draining the life out of you?


Is that job still bringing you excitement??


I am constantly having internal battles because I'm SUPPOSED to be happy all of the time, right? My friends are loyal and trustworthy, right? My job needs me because I'm essential even though I don't FEEL essential. I have more than enough to sustain me and I have lacked nothing during this pandemic. So, I can't be feel down because I'd look like I'm being ungrateful because as you know, I'm so blessed! *rolls eyes* Chile, please.


All of these thoughts probably led me straight into my last brawl with depression. I'm not supposed to be depressed because look at all I have going for myself; I can still go out and work, pay my bills, and eat, whether it be out of boredom or hunger! (Do we even know the difference at this point?) Whenever I fix my lips to say anything remotely negative, I'm automatically complaining about something. And of course somebody is saying,  "Somebody out there had plans today, but they didn't make it. Somebody is struggling to pay their bills. Somebody doesn't have enough food; belly swollen with hunger..."  It's thoughts and sayings like theses that will have anybody in depression!


Anything can have you spiraling into depression. It is not necessarily something that somebody did to you or didn't do for you. Life can be great, on the outside, but deep down inside you're drowning and screaming for help! Sadly, majority of your people will say that you're just complaining and negative, so you have to try to pull your own self up by the boot straps and keep going!


Hence, this post!


I have to get out of my own head and into somebody else's! As I'm writing, I'm always thinking about how the reader will respond, not literally, but more so of, I want you to walk away with a better sense of self. Thinking, "hmm?? I've never thought of it that way!" That, "Aha" moment that Oprah Bae is always talking about!


I don't know everything.


I've been on this Earth for 30-something years. And I still learning. I struggle because I'm human. I cry. I bleed. I think negative thoughts about myself and my life. I sometimes even write a few cuss words in my diary. (Oh, hush!) But God made promises to me over my life and I know His word will last.


One way to get me going in the morning is the radio! Every single morning, on my way to work,  I have to listen to Steve Harvey and the morning crew!


Today, he was talking about a great lesson that he learned from somebody and I thought it was just so fantastic, so I wanted to share it with you!


Imagine with me for a second that you're sweaty and dirty; just tired! You have on no shoes. If you're a male, then you have on no shirt and you're shorts are cut just below the knee and tethered. If you're a female, you have on a dingy tank top and some shorts... and there's a rope over your shoulders. At the end of your rope is a wagon. A wagon filled with all of your stuff; your responsibilities, your bills, your debts, you job, your coworkers, your friends, family, husband/wife, children, your worries and fears, just everything that's yours! Everything that you've been carrying around throughout your life.


Your shoulders are cut up and bleeding because you're pulling this wagon over your shoulders. And now, you've approached a hill that you must climb with this wagon that's filled with so much of YOUR stuff! How will you ever make it up this hill?


Well, if you have a good woman/man in your life, they'll get out of that wagon and help you. Maybe they'll bring your water and food. They'll fan you when you get too hot, wipe your sweat and tears. Even encourage you to keep on going. They're there for YOU and even though they can't help you pull the wagon physically, they're acts of service and kindness is all the help you need.


What about everybody else in the wagon, your friends and family members?? Maybe some of them have let a leg out and are kicking and pushing you to help you up the hill. They're cheering you on and motivating you to just keep going! OR maybe they're just coasting on by, drinking lemonade made from your sweat and tears. Maybe they're yelling that they're too hot and that you need to go faster. They're reaping all of the benefits of your wagon and not contributing a darn thing; dead weight!


PONDER THAT!


Take a deeper look into your wagon and think about the mountains and hills that you will have to climb one day. Who will be there helping you along the way and who will be there asking for more because you have more? If that man or woman doesn't hop out of the wagon and help out, then you leave them where they are. You both have seen enough! I may be ARMY STRONG and made a vow to never leave a fallen comrade, but a friend who has done nothing but weigh my wagon down, has to go! A family member who can't even whisper a pray for me, has got to go!


What'd Drake say, "The bandwagon is full, but you can try and run behind it..."?


And I'm sure that I've coasted along on a few wagons in my day. I've enjoyed the scenery of your mountain views. I'm thankful for the lemonade that you've let me drink. You didn't complain that I was too heavy. You didn't cuss me out for being helpless. You just kept on climbing. You showed me that even when the wagon seems impossible to pull. Even when you don't think you can take another step. Pray. That's when GOD will step in and pull you over. I'm talking about my mother; the greatest wagon ride of my life!



I can only pray to show my children half as much while they ride along on my wagon until they're pulling one of  their very own.






So, without further adieu...


… it IS a pleasure to meet you!