"With a Conscience" - I am better off than I was four years ago.

“Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity.” - W. Clement Stone

 I am better off than I was four years ago but not because of a presidential election. The election is over and I know full well that many people are not happy with the outcome, although there are just as many people who are happy.  We should all be happy because we have the freedom to elect  our leaders and accept the outcome.  That's being an American.

I am better off than I was four years ago.  I'm better off than I was even ten years ago but not because of a presidential election.  I'm better off because well...I got real.  Call me a late bloomer.  Call me young at hear and naive.  Call me anything you want but it was roughly ten years ago that I got "real."

I realized that no one gets anywhere without working hard at something and having the passion and the work ethic to endure.  Presidential elections are not responsible for personal growth.  WE are responsible for personal growth and if we're not happy with the way our personal world has developed then we must change it.  Why am I better off? Here's why:

I know I'm not done by any stretch of the imagination.  I'm not done longing, wanting, desiring to build my life on my terms.  Is this simple?  Is this easy? No...no...no...no...NO it is not.  My world is based on trial and error.  It's based on falling flat on my face and picking myself up.  I get up.  I allow a certain amount of time to REALLY lick my wounds and then I move forward with my dreams, my passions and even more importantly, find the joy in all of it.

I will admit it.  I feel sorry for myself and others sometimes.  When I see people suffering I want to fix their pain.  When I see people suffering, I want to make them at least have one laugh or two.  Sometimes my sense of humor is appreciated.  Sometimes, I get it all wrong and it's not. Oooopps.

The best thing any of us can do is own our own decision-making and allow others to do the same.  It sounds cruel.  It sounds hard but that is the best gift anyone can be given.  The freedom to define their own life, on their terms and not enable them.  We should not "entitle" them either.  The best thing we can do is allow ourselves and anyone else the freedom to define their own set of values and let them develop them.  If they fail.  If we fail, then it's up to each of us to figure out how to problem solve.  Learning how to problem solve involves criticism and truth. 

 To move forward, to grow, we must lick our wounds and take the time to figure out for ourselves what we want, what we can live with and what we makes us happy.  Yes, happiness is important and it's important that although happiness isn't defined by "things" (Ok, so I love a new pair of shoes, or a new handbag...)  It is defined by the work we do to help the world function in a way that defies conventional-ism.  It is defined by what is genuinely in our hearts and in our minds.

I am better off these days because I pushed myself to see what I was capable of doing.  I am better off because I will never settle for anything less than the freedom to create, to work, to love.  If we value those things within ourselves, we can withstand any election, any setback and any wrong done to us.  It means that sometimes we will be weakened.  It means sometimes people won't like us or position themselves to hurt intentionally.  The success is in knowing who we are and what  we want and be able to verbalize it to anyone.  Communication is key and always will be the hardest part of success.  We don't like to have uncomfortable conversations but they have to happen. We will not learn anything otherwise.

Life is difficult.  Complacent behavior is deadly.  When we do our part and take advantage of what is literally right in front us, there is no loser.  We all win.