Fight and SEA

Do you ever just really want to scream at the top of your lungs because you are in so much pain? It's like when you go to the beach. You notice the waves far in the distance, they look pretty calm so you ignore them and continue doing what you've set out to accomplish. You're having a great time, the sun is shining, everything is looking up and then BAM!

As you're enjoying the day, out of nowhere one of the distant waves, crash into your body and swallow you. You feel the force of the waves dragging you down. As you gasp for air, the undertow is too much and you find yourself deep underwater tossing, turning, struggling for air; struggling to find the sun. But the sun isn't close enough. As your arms are reaching for the surface, you fall deeper and deeper into the depth. You feel your lungs closing in as you're gasping for the air. The pressure in your head is to much. Is this it? Can this be the end? Everything fades to darkness. 

Sometimes our realities are just that. They are a struggle. We try as hard as we can to pull ourselves out of the darkness and up to the light but the weight of our problems we face can be to much to bare. So how do we get through it? As I've been working through my own struggles, I notice there are a few things that seem to help and comfort me. The first thing that brings me comfort is writing. When I find life is getting to hard I enjoy writing and those worries seem to grow smaller. I have always been a very expressive person. So when I am able to express myself to others, I feel a weight lifted off my shoulder. 

So many times when we are going through something, we think we are alone. Many times this causes us to stray away from those we love. It's kind of like when the waves pull you out to sea. As we fight the current we are just getting farther away from shore, farther away from our purpose. Instead of fighting and figuring out another way to solve it, we just give up. Success isn't about giving up though.

If you are going to be successful in overcoming struggles, you've got to find other ways to fight through them. Find ways to get back to shore. In order to do that, find those who are similar to you and express yourself. It doesn't matter what people think, you're learning to breathe again, to feel the sun on your face. 

The second thing that brings me comfort is surrounding myself with those I love. When I was going through my struggles, I wanted to push every single person I loved away. You guessed it, this lead to me becoming further away from the light. As I pushed everyone away I found myself lost and drowning once again. Completely isolated. It wasn't until time passed that I realized I had been lost as sea for a long time. When I would look in the mirror, I didn't even recognize myself. I had lost about 20 pounds, there were bags under my eyes but I couldn't sleep, and with all the advice given to me, I refused to take it. This was my struggle and I was on my way to letting the waves take me completely down, refusing all life jackets being thrown my way. Because I had pushed everyone away, I was struggling to find my feet. At this point I couldn't stand on my own. 

Then one day, my struggles got so bad that I realized I couldn't fight the fight on my own anymore. As alone and misunderstood as I felt, I decided to reach out for my lifeguards. Believe it or not, they were still there. That's the thing, when you feel like no one is there for you anymore, someone surprises you. Someone cares, and those lifeguards, well they carry life boats. And those life boats, well, they'll save your life. 

So, the next time you get caught in deep water, all I ask is that you to fight. i ask that you push yourself, and I want you to never give up on yourself. You will eventually find your way back to shore and find your success. Life does drag us down sometimes, deep into the undertow, but if you fight, swallow your pride, and ask for help, you'll find yourself on the shore, safe, and saying, "What a fight I had, and I made it, I fought my fears and I didn't drown, I survived." 

Lovingly,

Lucca