Just Like Everyone Else

February 1, 2015
Just Like Everyone Else
I’m looking at the date, February 1. That number “1” makes it different. It makes it new. It embodies new hope. For those of us who spend too much time living in wait of someday, this number “1” represents the hope of something different. It’s the same hope that comes with every Monday. Because we usually begin our diets on Monday. We’re always waiting to start over.

So why am I always wanting to start over? And in this want, am I disqualifying all of my efforts to this point? If I’m always waiting and anticipating something new, I am surely disappointed in how it has been. I’m thinking wrong.

I’m sitting here contemplating this. I need a reconciliation. I need to be excited to take on exciting new habits without condemning myself for my past choices. I need to be accountable for the choices in my life that brought me to where I am. But at the same time I cannot beat myself up (which is really beating myself down) with guilt and shame over the choices that have brought me to where I am.

I cannot live a life of guilt and shame. It’s wrong thinking. I’m done allowing myself to believe I have been unworthy or by thinking that I will be more acceptable going forward if I make these changes. I must reconcile the whole me.

The whole me is a great person with flaws, just like everyone else. Just. Like. Everyone. Else.

Just. Like. Everyone. Else.

I’m pausing on this point. Just like everyone else.

My struggle is just different, but we all have struggles. We all carry burdens. We are all human. We all have flaws. I am not so different.

I may have just had a personal “duh” moment here. I’m just like everyone else. I wake up each day and I have decisions to make, challenges to overcome, just like everyone else.

I have faced challenges. My challenges haven’t been easy, but I’m sure there are others who have had worse. I know there are, some come to mind. Some have had far, far worse and more painful challenges.

The reality, my reality, is that I have a wonderful life and today I am going to enjoy it. I am going to appreciate my life, the loved ones that share in it, and I’m going to live in the moments of today knowing that I am not different, less worthy or less deserving than anyone else.

I am so thankful for who I am. I deserve to be well taken care of today.