Running With Your Problems
Your life is a hot mess. You don’t have as nice of a house as your neighbor. People say nasty things about you when you’re not around. And personally, I think you have an ugly haircut. These things are all true not because you’re a bad person, it’s just because you’re a person. All of us are walking through life with a heap of troubles hoping to put up a more flattering image for the world to see.
Some people spend their whole life denying that they have baggage. Spending time and money to make yourself look perfect in the eyes of others is hubris. Yes, you should take care of yourself and be proud of the nice things you have. But it’s also important to embrace the fact that your life is screwed up and so are you. Instead of running from your problems it’s time for you to start running with them.
Not every issue is one that can be fixed over night. Getting that promotion will probably take you a few years of hard work. Your marriage probably needs your serious commitment over a long period of time to build trust. However, the act of problem solving always starts with acknowledging that there is a problem.
This is the first step in a long journey. Take it all in. All of those worries that keep you up at night aren’t going away, they’re coming with you. All of your insecurities are based on something. Your flaws are going to follow you. But you are also capable of making meaningful, long-term change in your life. Take all that garbage and wrap it up in a gunny sack to carry on down the road.
When your friends are hurting they won’t seek out someone who is perfect. They want someone to relate to. People with addiction go to meetings to talk to others who are struggling with the exact same issues. You can be the person that says, “These are my real problems, they go everywhere with me but I’m still moving.” That’s inspirational.
It’s okay that you’re screwed up right now. What’s more important is that you are taking action to get through the darkness. I don’t have a plethora of wisdom to share on where your journey will take you but I do have one small piece of advice that you desperately need to hear. Shave your head and find a new barber, you look like a poodle.
