“The only thing a person can ever really do is keep moving forward. Take that big leap forward without hesitation, without once looking back. Simply forge toward the future.”
― Alyson Noel
This is contortionist Rubber Ritchie.
“Happiest are the flexible people in life,
for they are rarely bent out of shape.”
—Anon
As you move forward in the direction of your highest potential, you will need to take stock (from time to time) along the way to consider what should be let go of or left behind.
The people you surround yourself with have a tremendous impact on the person you become. Over the years at times, I have had to separate myself from certain people. Having them in my life was bringing me down and preventing me from rising to where I needed to be. This wasn’t me being judgmental of others, or feeling that I was better than they were. It was simply making a decision about what I wanted to be and what I wanted for my life.
I choose to surround myself with people who I share common interests with, people who make me feel good, and people who encourage and motivate me to reach my highest potential. It’s a mutual exchange, as I offer the same to those people.
It’s impossible to be around negative people and not be effected in some way. It’s emotionally draining. It’s physically draining. It’s draining to reaching your life’s potential.
Every one of us will struggle with a challenge or personal setback at some point. This experience might involve a major disappointment, being rejected in some way, the loss of a loved one, etc. In that particular situation, our reaction may be negative. That’s part of being human, and those negative feelings are usually temporary. It’s a process that we must go through.
Random events and unfortunate circumstances are one thing. But, have you ever known people who seem to thrive on negativity? The words they speak are negative. Their actions are negative. Their attitudes are negative. Everything about them seems to be negative. It’s no wonder that negativity becomes apart of their everyday lives.
Some people seem to be caught up in a never-ending cycle of negativity. Truth is, if they aren’t purposefully doing anything to change, there’s a good chance that things will continue that way. Beware. Misery loves company. People in a cycle of negativity like to pull others in. If you’re not careful, it could be you spinning right along with them.
In every experience, there is a lesson to be learned. Through many of those lessons, I have learned the importance of surrounding myself with people who lift me up rather than pull me down. These days, I know better. When you know better, you do better.
If you’re reading this now and feeling like you need to let go of some negativity in your life, understand that the choice is yours. You get to decide when it’s time to say: no more negativity. Remember, this is not being judgmental of others, or saying that you are better than they are. It is simply announcing to everyone who you want to be and what you want for your life.
Now that you know better, do better.
Growing up, I remember believing that gangs— even the most dangerous looking ones— all settled their differences with a dance battle (the way it happened in movies like BREAKIN’). No weapons needed. Just cardboard and a boom box. Nobody got hurt, but somebody would get “served.” That was the worst thing that could happen.
Thinking about it now… it still makes more sense.
Occasionally, I have a difficult time parting with certain things. That’s why these sneakers have been with me for more than 10 years.
They’ve been my travel companions to many places. Together, we walked around London, Belgium, and Holland. We had adventures in Japan and India. We explored the Nevada desert, parts of Arizona and Texas. We took spur-of-the-moment road trips to “Destination: Anywhere” and ended up in Vermont and on Cape Cod. We even went skydiving in Mexico. There were local adventures to be had, too…with the neighborhood dogs, who escaped their leashes, that we sometimes had to outrun.
I sometimes referred to them as my “lucky sneakers,” because no matter where I wore them, we always made it back home safe. And, no matter where I’ve lived over the years, I always kept these sneakers by the front door. That way, they were ready to GO whenever the time came. The sneakers and I had our final adventure together just the other morning when we got caught in a flash flood at 5 a.m. and had to travel some distance on foot to get home. They survived— though worn out and soaked with smell of sewer water. Today I knew it was time to finally let them go.
Recently, I found a quote that said: some times we have to let go of what we have in order to make room for something better to take its place. If that’s true for the BIG stuff, it must be true for sneakers, too.
Farewell, “Lucky Sneakers”…you will be remembered.
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