Learning to Tie Your Shoes Again
Life comes with change, right? I would like to bust out of the gate and say that no matter how little or big the change, it can be both challenging and exciting. And when I say change, I mean everything from health and body, work and relationships, or a loved one passing, to a new home, new job and sometimes, a whole new life.
So, what can you do to get through it and move on?
Well, it’s not always easy, but the first step is to tell yourself you are going to. That you are not going to “sit here” and wallow in whatever it is you don’t like, or feel is not right.
Just because it isn’t how it used to be, does not mean it isn’t going to be amazing now.
When I first lost my eyesight, it would have been super easy for me to just say, “I can’t do this, it’s too hard.”
I mean, what is a 26-year-old blind girl going to do now, right? But you know what? I didn’t do that. Even though I had no idea how to take a step in the dark, I said I would try.
The next thing you need to do is actually take a step.
This is the hard part. It’s one thing to say, “I can do it.” It’s another thing to walk the walk. Change never looks good from a distance, but once you step in to it, you see the journey might actually be all right. Sometimes exciting, sometimes scary. But, we don’t know until we take that first step.
Now that you have the “I can” attitude and have allowed yourself to move forward, this next step is critical in order for you to keep the momentum going. Ready?
You absolutely need to believe!
You need to believe in yourself first and foremost. Believe in who you are as a person, whatever job you took, relationship you entered in to or dissolved, lifestyle you have, or dream you are chasing. Believe in the process, the timing and The Universe. And believe in your supporters. The ones out there who love you and want to be there for you.
(Oh and by the way, why should you let them? Because they believe in you and love you and you need that right now! :-) )
In fact, someone I loved inspired my “first step” and “believing in myself.” And they happened at the same time.
After I lost my eyesight, a few months had passed and I had still not left my apartment alone. The ugly white cane I’d been given stood in the corner and had never been used. I resisted it with everything I could muster.
But, Valentine’s Day had come around and I wanted to get my partner something. Before I knew it, I was bundled up (no idea if anything I had on matched! haha), had my shiny white cane in hand, and headed out to brave my new, dark world.
The neighbourhood convenience store was at the end of our block. It took me 20 minutes to get there. I bought her some Hershey’s kisses with help from the clerk, and left. I cried all the way home! I was so proud of myself even though I was so scared.
But for the first time since going blind, I walked alone. It felt amazing!
It’s truly incredible what happens when you believe you can do anything! So no matter what you are going through right now…in this moment, know and believe you can and will get through it.
- Tell yourself “I CAN!”
- Take a STEP.
- BELIEVE
Starting over doesn’t have to be painful if you give yourself permission to do it with love.
Just like when you first learned to tie your shoes, embracing change takes patience, practice and likely someone who loves you to tie them with you, over and over.
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