Our connection was something different and intense. On our perfect first date, you were charismatic and charming. You were interesting and had so much more depth than most people I had dated and I fell hard for you from the jump. I thought I had hit the jackpot. You made me feel safe and wanted and I couldn’t believe that you were mine and I was yours. We felt like a great match. One that would stand the test of time. My equal. My partner. My companion. Two weeks in and we were already talking about our future together. You could have philosophical conversations with me, ones that made me think differently about life. But then, slowly our relationship started to evolve into something dark and sinister.

You don’t every have to go through your struggles alone, even if you feel like you are. There are always friends, family, professionals, co-workers, etc. who are willing to lend a helping hand. Sometimes we just need to take the first step and reach out for help.

Have any of you ever felt defeated?  I know I have countless times in my life.  Some of you may even be feeling this way right now.  It’s a crushing feeling that you can’t escape and it is something we all have experienced.  It leads to feelings of inadequacy and that you’re a failure.  It makes you feel like you have lost the fight.  But now that I have you all feeling down on yourselves, I am going to tell you that you are not defeated.  You are not a failure.  And you certainly have not lost the fight.  Don’t ever give up!  The opposite of defeat is victory and success.  So how do we overcome feelings of defeat and come out victorious? 

I never understood New Year’s Resolutions.  I always thought that if you truly wanted to make a change, why wait for a specific date to do it?  If you were really that committed to changing your life, why wouldn’t you start right now?! 

Stop listening to the poisonous lies bombarding our lives.  You are beautiful.  You are unique.  You are NEEDED in this world.  It’s time to shed our clay layers, dig down, and find the shining, valuable, miraculous worth just waiting to be discovered. 

We all struggle to see our self-worth in the mirror.  We constantly judge ourselves for what we didn’t do, what we did do, or where we fall short every day.  I say, ENOUGH ALREADY!!   We are all so incredibly different and complex as humans.  You are rare.  You are unique. Allow yourself to be different.  Embrace your flaws while trying still trying to better yourself every day.  Allow yourself to rejoice in how far you have come and in who you are right now while also allowing yourself to take realistic steps to become better each day.