Be thankful for the journey

I really do not need a specific day to be thankful, I never really have. For me I think you need to “Be thankful for the journey”. With the life I had before I reached the age of 18 it was just not the way the ball bounced. Now each day I wake up no matter how tired or grumpy I am, always I am still thankful. It has taken me years to be able to carry out and understand the crazed logic behind it. To think about it, accept it and to give up much of the rage I once had. Everyone that knows me knows that I hardly ever smile, it is not some secret plot to take over the world by being mysterious (que this now). On the inside I can smile and no one would be the wiser.

Looking back I cannot even begin to calculate how many negative things have happened in my life, but without them I would not be the person I am today. Others may say that “God will never put more on you than you can handle” but as most are aware, I do not follow the typical and standard religious beliefs, nor do I follow any specific “God”. I prefer Marilyn’s approach instead; “If you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best”

Over the years I have met some amazing people and to be honest, I have met some that made my life a pure nightmare. It took some time before I could distance myself from those people to better my life for not just myself but for those in my life that I hold dear to me. Not every person will jump off a bridge if a friend tells them too, but sometimes you have to play with fire and get burned a dozen times before you learn your lesson.

There are things in my life that I may not be particularly proud of, nor would ever do again but I did learn from everything in my past and I continue to learn daily. Part of that past leads me to where I am now, it makes me remember each and every day why I am thankful for people I love, the company I keep, and the motivation to move in a positive way. When you hit the bottom the only thing you can do is climb to the top. And it took me a very long time to fully understand why we should all “Be thankful for the journey”, the journey never ends.

Over the years I had never planned to give up and take the easy road like so many of the lazy people who infect our world now do. I had some rough patches and I moved past them to end up better than many thought could never happen. There are times when even I am utterly amazed as how much has changed and I break out that secret smile. I could watch a comedic marathon and not break a smile, on the outside no one would be the wiser but I would always know.

I am thankful for the good, the bad & the ugly. For those who said it would never happen. For those who gave up too quick or turned a blind eye. The people who made my life good, the negative ones who made it hell and the crazy ones who completely understood where I was coming from. I have learned from the past; people’s mistakes and their fortunes, my own personal battles and others who had battles that I was lucky enough to help with.

For those who knew me at my worst or only met me once I reached my best I thank you all. Those who read this lady’s random ramblings to take a moment to yourself, take a deep breathe and be thankful for all of your own influences. It is a very relaxing feeling. Feel free to follow the eight little words below, it has worked for me for years. And the journey continues…”Be thankful for the journey”.