Congratulations! You Made It!!!

Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving,
make everyday a holiday and celebrate just living!
-Amanda Bradly

Congratulations! You made it this far in life. If you are similar to me, you have survived epic heartache, financial challenges, dysfunctional relationships, emotional ups and downs, as well as the life of hard knocks. Guess what? I thought I was terminally unique and I found out that I am not! No matter how things look on the outside, everyone at some time or another has experienced “the dark night of the soul”.
In working with others, I have discovered that problems are universal! We all have difficulties at different stages of life. Most human beings have challenging upbringings, and I think I read that 90% of Americans have been raised in a dysfunctional family.
I have found that a common theme with individual’s that are down and out, often compare themselves with those around them. This can be very damaging, because we cannot judge other people’s insides by their outsides.Often those that look perfect on the outside, are often hiding the pain on the inside.
We can also count on life circumstances constantly changing. We go through cycles of flourishing and thriving and sometimes cycles of letting go and starting over. Going with the flow and accepting life’s bumps and gravel, as well as the smooth and well paved territory is what life is all about.
What I am really trying to get at is life can be challenging, but just remember God can only get in through the cracks! And if you made it this far it is time to celebrate! Stop being so hard on yourself! Quit analyzing, comparing, or getting down on yourself about your mistakes. Quit looking in the rearview mirror of your past and dance, sing, laugh, play, and most of all lighten the heck up!