In the depths of your soul, there lies a fire, A passion that burns, a constant desire. A spirit untamed, a courage worth more, It's time to ignite and let out a roar.
Roar louder, my friend, let your voice be heard, No longer confined, let your fears be blurred. Unleash your dreams, break barriers, be free, For this world needs your roar, for all to see.
Roar louder, like thunder, across the expanse, Your strength and your power deserve a chance. Don't hold back, my friend, let your spirit soar, And watch as your roar echoes forevermore.
Roar louder, and let the doubters tremble, For they'll see your fire, they won't dissemble. With each roar, you shatter boundaries in sight, A force to be reckoned with, shining so bright.
Roar louder, my friend, with unwavering might, In every situation, whether dark or bright. Let your roar inspire those who hold back too, To find their voices, to roar side by side with you.
So roar louder, my friend, let it fill the air, With every ounce of your soul, let the world be aware, That you're here, you're present, you're ready to fight, And through your mighty roar, you'll set the world alight.
So roar louder, my friend, let it never fade, With every obstacle, let your roar cascade. For in your roar lies strength, passion, and power, To conquer any challenge, to rise and tower.
So let your roar be heard, through mountains and seas, And may it inspire others to believe, That within their hearts, they too can ignite, And together, let us all roar with all our might.
Intelligent people say to speak your truth. If those who hurt you don’t like what you have to say, they should have thought about their actions before they committed them. Or at least apologize once they knew how those actions hurt you.
Here’s a hard life lesson that some learn too late.
*Broken people, hurt people*
It costs absolutely nothing to be kind to others.
Please check yourself.
Try not to allow your actions to hurt those around you.
You never know what battles they are fighting inside.
The person behind that smile may be walking a tightrope over a pit of darkness.
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The World Health Organization estimated in 2019 that there were 301 million people affected by anxiety and only 5% of the global population are affected by depression.
I call BS.
Those numbers are of the brave souls who spoke up and asked for help. So many are too afraid to speak out due to the drastic life changing consequences that would happen if they did.
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Physical, emotional, and psychological abuse kept me silent for far too long.
I am no longer bound by the chains of the experiences of my past.
I will continue to speak out for those who can’t use their voice in hopes it will give them the strength to start.
Stick around we have only just scratched the surface.
In the corners of my heart, where our memories reside, there lies a treasure trove of moments by your side. Each memory is a gem, glistening with love, reminders of the precious times we shared, hand in tiny hand.
I remember the laughter, like music in the air, the way your smile filled the room, oh so rare. We danced in the moonlight, beneath a starry sky, lost in each other’s arms, a love we couldn’t deny.
Through seasons that passed, like chapters in a book, our memories grew, like roots that firmly took. In springtime, we walked hand in hand, embracing the beauty of nature’s divine command.
Summer brought us warmth and adventures untold, and we explored new horizons; our love continues to unfold. From the ocean’s embrace to the sand between our toes, we are forever etched in my mind as this love story grows.
Autumn painted the world in hues of gold; our love, like the changing leaves, beautifully unfolds. We carved our initials on trees as a symbol of forever, promising to cherish these memories now and forever.
As winter arrived, with its cold and frost, we found warmth in each other, no matter the cost. Cozy movie nights by the fire, wrapped in love’s embrace, creating memories that time could never erase.
Even as the seasons changed and time passed, our memories blossomed like a beautiful love song. They remind me of the joy we shared, the pure happiness, and even though those days are gone, these memories endure.
So I hold onto them tightly, like treasures of gold, they keep you alive in my heart’s stronghold. For in my memories, you’ll forever stay, a part of my soul, in every single way.
My memories of you while you were little are a gift I will keep; through tears and laughter, they will forever seep. As I reminisce, I find solace anew in the beautiful life of my memories still left to have with you.
Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.
John F. Kennedy
I have always forgiven those who have wronged me, even if deep down I felt it wasn’t the right decision. Even though I have been able to forgive those in my life, I have had a much harder time forgiving myself.
In my soul-searching journey, I have realized the inability to forgive myself stems from wanting to be accepted and loved by those I care deeply about. I have tried so hard to be perfect for those around me that it nearly took my life.
The pursuit of perfection isn’t something that can be accomplished unless you are striving for perfection in the eyes of the lord.
Over the last year, I have realized that not everyone deserves forgiveness and I am no less of a person for choosing to not allow those who hurt me back into my life. One must strive for peace in all things, even if this means walking away from those you onced loved or cared for.
I am like many people who are over-critical of every move they make. I know now that’s from years of childhood abuse that has always been just under the surface. I have become a master at putting on a smile while I am breaking apart inside, in order to not be a burden to others.
It’s a very lonely place to live.
What I didn’t realize until recently is that if you surround yourself with people who care about your character and personal growth you can not be a burden in any way. These people are willing to walk the straight and narrow path with you, holding your hand during the trials and enjoy celebrating your accomplishments.
The more you know yourself, the more you forgive yourself.
Confucius
Take the time to look back over your past and learn from the mistakes you made.
Looking through the lens of a different perspective you will gain healthy insight as to the way things in your past happened. Notice the patterns. Fix what may be broken within you. We are all humans who are hard-wired to make mistakes and none of us will ever be absolutely perfect.
If you won two free plane tickets, where would you go?
Isn’t it funny how your mind can play tricks on you and how a memory can cause your entire body to react?
How can a song make you cry by transporting you back in time to a specific place and event?
At the time, you might have thought the experience was insignificant.
If I had two free plane tickets, I’d want unlimited ice cream. Sunshine on a quiet deck early in the morning. Laughter and giggles from those around me playing mini golf. Watching the sun set and rise without a care in the world. And the best part, absolutely no connection to the mainland—my little piece of heaven—just floating on the water with those who meant the absolute most to me.
As I look back at the pictures now, they don’t do the time that we spent together justice. My view of those giant smiles and a complete sense of happiness on all their faces is something I will never forget. That is what life is all about. Those moments are what I strived for.
We can’t take any of this worldly stuff with us. We can’t take our money or our favorite pair of shoes, and those won’t help the people that we leave behind in the long term. But the memories that we take the time to make with each other, the moments of undivided attention, and love, those are the things that will last a lifetime.
Funny how when we are in the moment, in the thick of life, we forget to enjoy those around us.
All too often, we take for granted the things right in front of us, things within our reach. We are busy and consumed with the next ‘big’ thing: that new car, that promotion at work, that vacation to escape the mountain of laundry.
Life passes by so quickly.
We must make a conscious effort to slow ourselves down and enjoy the little blessings.
So sign me up for unlimited ice cream. All-you-can-eat buffets. Sunshine, laughter, and that sense that everything is right in the world.
Recall past perseverance and how you accomplished the impossible. You can do this!
Take a step, even just a small one. One small step forward every morning. Lead with your heart, no matter how ragged and torn it may be. It still beats in your chest, giving you purpose and infinite possibilities.
Set a reasonable pace. Don’t rush yourself. Give yourself grace. Understand there will be setbacks, and you will want to give up. These are part of the process. Keep going.
Try other solutions. We know Rome wasn’t built in a single day, and you can imagine they made mistakes that needed to be fixed. Try not to get discouraged with your progress or lack thereof. Think outside the box, restart from where you are, and move forward one day at a time.
Be patient and give things time. The universe will provide, all in due time.
Just keep going (even if it’s only in your mind). Grateful from the moment you put your feet on the floor. Pain tells us we are alive, and we become stronger and more knowledgeable due to our experience.
“Fall seven times and stand up eight.” – Japanese Proverb
Forgiveness has always been something I was proud that I was able to accomplish. That was until I realized I was doing it all wrong. I always allowed others to treat me poorly, and I would internalize their words and believe that there was a fundamental flaw in who I was as a person. I would then allow that person to stay in my life and continue to use me as their punching bag when they needed to release hate, anger, and toxicity. Years of swallowing my pride, silencing my voice, and changing who I was to fit into the picture that other people wanted me to be.
Recently I have learned the true meaning of forgiveness. Did you know you are not supposed to sacrifice yourself for others? You can hold anger and resentment for how others treat you, regardless of whether you said anything at the moment. It is completely OK to not forgive someone for things they may have said or done to you.
Sometimes we have to forgive. Humans aren’t perfect, and we all have bad days. We have to learn to let stuff go. You most likely will never see the person in the grocery store who was grumpy again, so let that go. You will probably never cross paths with the guy who cut you off in traffic or the lady who gives you a nasty look in the clothing store, so let that stuff go. Lead with love. You can change people’s lives with just a smile.
Making sure to hold those closest to you accountable for their words and behavior, contrary to popular opinion, is, allowed and very much NEEDED to have a healthy relationship. Pushing others away, simply walking away, or putting distance between those closest to you is how healthy boundaries are created and maintained. Trust your gut! You do not have to be the emotional dumping ground for others. Those you’ve chosen to be lucky enough to get close to you should want to help your garden grow, not try and destroy it.
Forgiveness is a two-way street. Each party must admit fault, apologize sincerely, and avoid repeating the same behavior—three distinct efforts to save something, if it’s worth saving. Don’t be ashamed if you decide there is nothing to save. One can only allow hurt by others for so long before you have to choose peace.
We all have our timelines for forgiving someone. It does not need to happen overnight, and it may, in fact, take years. You must weigh all the options and know you are making the right decision for your heart. You may realize that forgiveness means walking away from the other person forever, and that is ok!
Be patient with those who prove they want you around. Their behavior will prove they are sorry for their toxic demeanor towards you. There are people out there who genuinely do love you, but remember, we are all carrying our baggage, and sometimes, inadvertently, we sling that at others. We all make mistakes, say and do things we regret; humans are incredibly messy, and each should be able to correct their errors.
How does one ask for or start the forgiving process?
Step one: Exoneration
Step two: Forbearance
Step three: Release
I repeat…Release: let it go!
Don’t hold on to the weight of past hurt and pain. The darkness will prevent you from seeing the wonders all around you.
What is the path to asking for forgiveness? – The following are things that can be done by an individual to be granted forgiveness:
Responsibility –
Take responsibility for the action. Your actions or behavior can hurt others even if you are not meaning to.
Regret –
This comes with having a conscience. Understand that some people may never regret any of their choices. You will have to decide if this is a deal breaker or not.
Repentance –
Find a way to make it better. This step doesn’t have to be grand gestures or expensive gifts; actions speak louder than words. Sometimes words are all that one needs. Hearing a regretful tone with an apology can make all the difference.
Reconcile –
This may not be possible. Understand it, accept it, and move on.
Restitution –
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we made people pay for their wrongdoings towards us? You can withhold time, I suppose. But holding the past hurts against someone actively trying to improve and move forward, may not be the best option. That type of behavior could require your own need for forgiveness.
Remember to go at your own pace. Hurt from others is a part of this life. It teaches us lessons about ourselves and our character. It shapes who we are, whether we like it or not.
We all carry the hurt from others. Some of us for years before we are willing and able to let go, with massive amounts of work before we are finally able to set it down and move forward.
Roar louder than your demons 