~~Create a life you don't need a vacation from.~~ Unknown
My quit journey is really what led me to creating a life I don't need a vacation from. I stopped thinking of myself as a 'victim'. I stopped bowing to people who didn't have my best interest at heart. I stopped thinking "I can't" and I stopped stopping myself from reaching my potential.
Now? Now I have a family I simply couldn't do without. Now I have possibilities each and every day. Now I have the courage to try. Now I have an understanding of myself that takes me on adventures.
I forgave others and myself. I set down the burdens I was carrying because they didn't need to come with me. I reached for the positives. I allowed myself to grieve over what was gone so I could heal. I allowed myself anger so I could set boundaries. I stopped apologizing for making mistakes and started allowing myself to recognize them as growing opportunities.
I stopped trying to control how others saw me and began to understand that those who love me, love me and those who don't, don't. I started recognizing stress as just a way that I saw a particular situation or event and that stress was self-made. I started rolling with the punches and allowing life to take me along.
I have my fair share of ups and downs. I'm not perfect and I hurt sometimes...I am sad sometimes...I get so very tired sometimes. But my joy is found in life itself and I am always grateful for one more breath, one more opportunity, one more day.
I hope you create a life you can be happy in. I hope you create a life you can be proud of. And I hope you know that if you aren't, you have an opportunity to change that whenever you decide you want to.