I've always wanted to start a blog, but didn't know what message I wanted to put out about myself. Words are a powerful insight to who we are. At some point or another, I'm sure we've all found a quote by someone that has been an inspiration. One I'd like to start with is from Gandhi. He said: "Be the change you want to see in the world."
Now, I don't know if he meant the world, or if he used this term to describe what was going on in his "world". This quote to me says be the change you want to see in yourself. Afterall, to make a change or be an influence to someone else, you must first be an influence to yourself. You must see the good in you.
Over the past few years, I have been working on breaking the cycles that are put in us all by our parents, or our grandparents, or maybe even our grandparents parents..who knows where it begins. I recognize the things in my parents that have held them back from being better..or being their best self. I understand where their shortcomings have come from. We all have it in us to change, but it's work. And some people just aren't willing to do the work. I'm a firm believer that everyone needs therapy. Whether it's going to an actual therapist, or trying to psychoanalyze yourself. I personally like to figure things out on my own..do the research of my own brain. So, I started by taking a step back, and putting myself in my parents shoes as children. Afterall, don't we all blame most of our screwed up mentalities on our parents? Here's the thing..it's not their fault. They didn't know how to break the cycle, or maybe they tried and didn't succeed fully. Take my dad for instance...he's a great man. He's a hardworker, with good intentions most of the time I think.. He provided us with most things that people take for granted. One thing about him is, he's not an emotional man. He's not a hugger, not big on compliments, not good at taking criticism... but when I look at his life as a child, he wasn't hugged..he wasn't complimented...and I'm sure all he got was criticism. Don't get me wrong, I love my grandparents, but they too have their problems. We really are all just confused beings, not knowing how to channel our confusion. Not knowing how to correct the mistakes our parents, grandparents, or great grandparents have made. But if you can step back and recognize the cycle, you can be the change in your world.
