(Photo credit: Melissa Johnson)
As you already know, last night marked the one-month anniversary of the Quad-State Tornado and upwards of 100 people lost their lives that night as the twister trekked a 160-mile-long path of devastation. The tornado went by just 15-20 miles northeast of my neighborhood and I realize that any town could be hit, including my town and if the storm had originated just 15-20 more miles southwest than it did, we would have been hit.
When something like this happens, it really makes you think and take stock.
And sadly, tragedies such as this drive home such a harsh and cruel truth- life is too short!
Why do I bring this up? It’s because I’ve known too many people who spent their lives under the bootheels of bullies. They spent their entire lives taking abuse and feeling powerless. They spent their lives never knowing the enormous power they had and could’ve used.
They spend a lifetime taking other people’s crap- being used as a dumping ground for the negative emotions and feelings of others- for other people’s anger, jealousy, feelings of insecurity and self-loathing.
They spent their time on Earth never truly knowing their worth and the value they brought to this world and the lives of others. They never knew their own strength and power. Saddest of all, they died before ever knowing the feeling of happiness nor reaching their full potential.
Why?
Because they were never taught to love themselves and that they deserved better. Instead, they were kept blindfolded to their own beauty and importance.
Realize that life is only a one-shot deal. You only get one turn at it. This is why you most make it your best life possible and that means getting rid of the people who subtract from your life instead of adding to it. It means walking away from those who diminish you instead of enhancing you.
Life’s much too short to spend being someone else’s doormat.
It’s time to take back your personal power.
It’s time to take back ownership of your life.
You own your life and you’re the only person who must live it. Your life is yours to live and yours to enjoy.
It’s true that you can’t control how other people behave toward you, but you have full control over whether you allow them to stick around. In other words, if another person crosses a line with you, you damn sure have the power to kick their sorry butts to the curb and keep it moving.
You are more powerful than you know. If you want to make the rest of your life the best of your life, the time is now. Because none of us are promised tomorrow.
With knowledge comes empowerment!