Day 8 of "30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself"

It took me a long time not to judge myself through someone else's eyes.  ~ Sally Field

#8 Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us.  We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past.  But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future.  Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come. My favorite life slogan seems to make perfect sense when you read and follow #8, "Everything happens for a reason!" I've said it a million times and try to live by it, looking for that so called "silver lining" in everything that comes my way.  LOL ok I will admit I am often confused as to the why's, the where's and the how's, it seems to happen all to often to me. They say it's suppose to make you stronger. Yeah ok I guess if you say so, ha-ha. I should be as strong as a horse by now! Move on is what I have to keep telling myself... I can't let myself look to the past with regrets or remorse. I don't really look at anything as a mistake, just another learning experience. Another way to grow and embrace that I am fortunate to have had people touch my life in different and special ways. I received one of my two greatest gifts in life from my so called "mistake/regret" as his dad would say, my baby my loving son and for that I will be forever grateful!!! I was reading a note from one of my previous FB posts that I wanted to share tonight because I feel it seems to be the last piece to tonight's puzzle...

From a special friend!!! Thanks ~ XOXOXOXO

“After a while you learn the subtle difference
between holding a hand and chaining a soul.
And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning
and company isn’t security.
(Kisses aren’t contracts and presents aren’t promises.)

After awhile you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up and your eyes open,
with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child.
And you learn to build your roads on today
because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain
and the inevitable has a way of crumbling in mid-flight.

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns
if you stand too long in one place.

So, you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone else to bring you flowers.
And you learn you really can endure,
that you really do have worth.
You learn that with every good-bye comes the dawn.”

xoxo.
S