RAIN DROPS

I have envisioned in my mind this picture
I am standing in the middle of an abandoned road on a wonderfully faint overcast day. I do not have the proper clothing on for such weather. I have on shorts and a t-shirt. No shoes.
I extend my arms to the clouds that have congregated over my head.
I wait.
Emotion waiting behind the flood gates. Waiting for a release. Permission to let go.
The very first drop of rain splashes on my forehead. Another. Drop. and Another. Splash.
As if each insignificant source of pain in my life is dripping- morsel by morsel from the sky. Slipping off of my body and running along the gutter.
The release of each drop from the clouds absolves all the negative. the turmoil. the affliction.
I let go of all the disappointment. missed opportunities. failed attempts at relationships. shortcomings as a mother, friend, daughter.
I let the rain and my own tears wash over me. I allow myself to be cleansed.
I am standing on this old road til the clouds finally part and rays of light shine through.
I am seeing myself again. The tortured self I once knew has been washed away by the storm.
I let the sun warm my cool damp body. Slowly, just as the sun will shine through those dingy storm clouds, I am returning.
Optimistic. Loving. Adventurous. Ready to take on the world.

Although my imperfections and iniquities cannot literally be washed away by a rainstorm, I can slowly start letting it all go.
Holding onto the nightmare of my past will prevent me from the fairy tale of my future.
I suppose I will let it be like the 'snowball effect'. Start letting a few things go, til it grows, and I'm clear of my past.
I promise I will be the very best I can be in the mean time. For heaven's sake, I'm 'Dani Brady'. While that may mean nothing to you... It means EVERYTHING to me. I will grow. I will change. I will love. I will let the little things slip. I will be completely happy- just by being myself.
Soon enough, I wont even remember what I was so conflicted over. Why I was distressed. Or who upset me.

Looks like that mental rainstorm is working after all.

FIGHT

I believe there are those that yield, and those that fight.
Those that cower, and those ready for a battle.
In truth- something in life is always going to get you down.
Disappointment.
Grief.
Struggle.
Pain.
All waiting at the next turn.
It seems to be that when life is going your way, and there's no gray cloud in sight- a downpour of terror floods your very soul.
What do you do?
Do you lock yourself inside?
Do you row through the steadily rising turmoil?
Nobody ever said this life was easy. Life is never constant.
We are on an ever changing path.
Sometimes it is clear and straight. There are no diversions or distractions. No forks in the road, no flashing lights to distract us.
Other times it is heavily covered with brush and vines. You may have to cut your own path, or choose left or right when there's a fork in the road.
Whatever your path may look like- it's YOURS. You hold the power to choose your destination.
Whatever you do, do not give up. Even when it seems you've come to a dead end.
STAND UP.
FIGHT.
We all go through these awful, nightmarish and rough times.
We feel hopeless. helpless.
The trick, my friends is to dig deep within yourselves and find the warrior. the scrapper. the brawler.
Hold your head up high, and throw a few punches. Do not let your story end in defeat. Sometimes you have to be your own best friend. You have to be the believer in you, when no one else can or will.
Believe in yourself and all that you have to offer, because I promise you are worth your weight in gold. You are worth fighting for yourself.
So here's your challenge:
FIGHT. Do not cower. FIGHT.