Perspective

When blue skies turn to gray and the brightness of each day turns to melancholy, it’s easy to withdraw and isolate. When we feel as if we have lost control of things that are important in our lives, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with negativity and sadness.

It’s times like these that can create even larger issues than the original ones. It’s times like this that you hit the symbolic “rock bottom”.

Until recently, I didn’t even know that I had to plan for this or have a game plan to get out of these situations. But through some incredible friendships as well as professional advice, I now have the tools needed to manage things like this.

Rock bottom is a terrible place to be but it’s also all about perspective. You can choose to see it as a negative or you can choose to frame it as a positive. I’m choosing positive.

I’m looking at rock bottom from this perspective: Anything that happens from here can only be an improvement. It can only be better than being at the bottom.

Now does that mean that everything will go as I want it to? Of course not, but it does mean that everything will better than where I’ve been.

It takes a lot of work and honest self evaluation to begin to work through your failures and mistakes. It is a humbling and brutal experience for sure. But it is also empowering. It is a hard pill to swallow, but it is also a tremendous learning opportunity.

Over the last 6 months or so I’d lost my drive. I’d lost my desire to pursue my passions. I’d lost my ability and passion for life and those I love. Doing so resulted in me losing someone very important to me, maybe forever. But again it’s all about perspective.

Today, I can see that I needed to hit this low in order to realize where I had drifted. Today, I am invigorated with a new found drive and passion for my photography, writing and association with a cause that means a lot to me. I’m refocusing on my self love and improvement. I’m expanding my social circle by meeting new people and doing new activities. I’m doing all of these things all while still mourning the loss of a truly amazing relationship.

Who knows what the future holds for me, or anyone else? Who knows if she’ll ever forgive me? Who knows if I’ll ever find another love as true and real as the love I had with her? The truth is that no one knows the answers to these and many other questions. What we do know is that this is an amazing life. It’s a life worth living and it is a life worth fighting for. What I also know is that a love like the one that I’ve lost is also worth fighting for. But I’ve learned (the hard way) that there is definitely a wrong way to fight…. Now to focus on the right way…