I Got Back Up and Tried Again.
I fell down. A lot. But I got back up and tried again. And again. And again. My wrists hurt. I sprained one. Almost put a hole in a wall. Kicked a tree while practicing outside. But I needed to tackle a new skill to remember that we can do hard things.
Don’t quit. Life is weird, hard, draining, confusing, and at times overwhelming. But it can also be exciting, rewarding, challenging, and fun. Laughter at our failed attempts and the joy of accomplishment make the struggle so so worth it.
Find a thing and go for it. As ridiculous as it may be. It’ll make the hard times a little easier and serve as a reminder that with persistence we can make changes.
{but when doing so, find every opportunity to embarrass the hell out of your kids. Mine came while practicing and falling in the front yard as they rode bikes, falling on their bed while practicing in their room, and once almost kicking one in the face. Oopsie.}
Lately all I am listening to is Sarah Bareilles. Powerful, emotional, uplifting, musical reminders that we can in fact do hard things. So I leave you with one of her classics: Brave.
You can be amazing
You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug
You can be the outcast
Or be the backlash of somebody's lack of love
Or you can start speaking up
Nothing's gonna hurt you the way that words do
And they settle 'neath your skin
Kept on the inside and no sunlight
Sometimes a shadow wins
But I wonder what would happen if you
Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave
Everybody's been there, everybody's been stared down
By the enemy
Fallen for the fear and done some disappearing
Bow down to the mighty
Don't run, stop holding your tongue
Maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live
Maybe one of these days you can let the light in
Show me how big your brave is
Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
Innocence, your history of silence
Won't do you any good
Did you think it would?
Let your words be anything but empty
Why don't you tell them the truth?
Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave