We all know that life happens. Life comes with twists and turns, and even more; life comes with peaks and valleys. Of course, when we least expect it, life shows up to remind us that we can either be strong, or we can cower and hide or be weak and submit.
Life happens.
We all know this
Life happens, which is the nicer way of saying that shit happens, and when it does, what are you going to do?
What is the difference between someone who succeeds as opposed to someone who stands by and watches their life sink into an abysmal waste?

What is it that sets us apart?

 I don’t suppose you remember me, or maybe you do. After all, I am the same as I have always been. I might have changed as far as my height is concerned.
I’ve grown some. I’ve gained weight and lost weight.
I have moved from town to town, and I’ve had a few different jobs.
I’ve lived a few different lives and worn different hats and perhaps I’ve worn a different face from time to time. But trust me when I tell you, I will always be me.

This is how life can be when we look or see ourselves as unworthy, or less-than.
I say this openly because I offer this as a means to expose how insecurity can destroy our ability to be happy.

Who doesn’t want to be happy?
Who doesn’t want to feel content?
Who wants the world on a string?
I do . . .
But first, let me expose a truth, or should I say my truths, which I hope to call relatable, and more, please allow me to illustrate how insecurity degrades us, and like a weed, insecurity starves the flowers of our hopes and truths.

I remember when there was a time when it was good to be wild.

Do you?

I remember a time when it was fine to risk everything and not care about what came next. And I swear, a World War could’ve taken place and I might not have noticed.
A storm could have passed, a hurricane, tornado, and even an earthquake, and all could have gone on simultaneously and I wouldn’t have noticed.

There is no point in denying the truth. There’s no reason to deny the inevitable and there is no reason to quit or surrender, at least not now.
I agree when you say life can be hard. I agree when I hear people say that life can be unfair.
And I agree when people shake their heads and maybe they spit or curse, and I understand the feelings that come with loss, or the loss you find when you work so hard for something to happen, but in the end, the outcome was not what we hoped for.

There are times when we go crazy.
But don’t worry.
I’ve been doing this for decades now.
I’m pretty good at this too.
But—