"The struggle is real"

No one likes the word "struggle" but truth be told without the struggle we would not be able to enjoy the success. Being a single mother it feels like everyday is a struggle, but with that struggle comes strength. I spent a long time being afraid of myself because of what other people said or believed about me.  When you spend 100 days not smiling you look forward for the 101'st day when you can smile just because you have made it. Making it doesn't mean you have it all, it simple means you have made it over the struggle of the day; and that enough.

I often get asked "How do I do it. How do I stand tall after the struggle."

We all have choices. We all have the same hours of the day. We all want things. Everyday we have the chance to sink or swim. If you want up everyday with the desire to do better than yesterday things will fall into place because the time, effort, and drive is there. Nothing will land in your lap if you are half-assing anything. You have to fight through the bad days in order to appreciate the good days.

It may seem like everyday is a struggle; seeking the silver lining is the saving grace that will keep you together. We can take the struggle and use that to see the negative in every situation that arises or we can turn the negative into a positive. Despite the struggle, we have a billion and one things to be thankful and look positively at. Beauty and positivity surrounds us but if we sit in the darkness that is all we will see and the beauty will seem like a nuisance. Don't let your feelings and fear get the best of you.

Look around. Take a moment. Be alone. Cry. Yell. Refocus. Comfort and love yourself.

We can not get another life. The one you have is the one you have to grab by the horns and ride. No one else can do the work for you. Never let the struggle break you; let it make you. Its in the darkest times that we learn our biggest lessons. Hold your head up even when a million and one tears are pouring out of those eye because what does not kill you will make you stronger. No one will appreciate the struggle and the process as much as you will. No one will understand why you smile just because and why you do things without expecting something in return. They may not be on the same level as you are, that okay, we all have our own growth spurts. This may not be their season but it may be yours. You can not water their grass and wonder why yours is not striving.

Stop telling people your goals. No one will believe in you as much as you will believe in yourself. Don't let the negative vibes of underachievers deter you from what you want. We are not all here to serve the same purpose. Live the way you want; people will talk regardless of what you are doing.
If you don't like something change it.

I could let all of my struggles bring me down and I could feel sorry for myself or I can fight through the struggle.