Growing Pains

My foundation is so solid. I have the best family in the world and the best friends on Earth. They ground me. I love the way that every single person in my life is so purposeful and well-intended. It’s almost like I see them as God’s puppets. He’s Heaven’s puppeteer and they’re down here acting out “Life” by my side… like my own personal angels. Every single person I love. One such co-star has been my best friend since we were 11.

We were talking the other day and for the life of us, we just CANNOT understand our lives. It bewilders us so much, that all we can do is laugh hysterically. We laughed at the way that everything we planned to happen hasn’t, everything we thought we’d do, we didn’t, and the people we thought we’d become are completely different than who we are today. It’s hilarious. In case you’ve ever wondered, that’s where the title of this blog comes from. “Sometimes we plan, and God laughs.” It’s like He has to slap you around a little bit to get your attention and then yells, “SIT DOWN AND SHUTUP! I GOT THIS!” In a much more polite and Godly way, of course. But so much is out of our control. In fact, sometimes it feels like nothing is in your control. And recognizing that’s true is even tougher. As we’ve grown up together, we constantly have to remind ourselves that the only things within our control, are ourselves. And depending on your spiritual beliefs, even that’s up for debate.

Nonetheless, growing up sucks. Throughout our lives we endure death, life, transitions, decisions, victories, responsibilities you thought you were ready for, responsibilities that arise whether you’re ready or not, obstacles that end, ones you think never will, and relationships that shape and mold everything about us. At the end of the day, the only thing constant in any of that stuff is YOU. You’re the common thread that ties all those things together, the only thing that each of those things share. As the common thread, you’re forced to consider your role. How did the way you reacted to any, or one, of the aforementioned shape the outcome? Since all we can control is ourselves, we’ve got to learn how to. Our lives are shaped by our reactions. The way we react to people, situations, challenges, and success is in-part a reflection, if not an all-encompassing direct reflection, of our character.

Colleagues make work miserable. Bills are due. School is hard. Family is stressful. Money is tight. And your health has seen better days. You have little control over all that stuff, but what you can control is your reaction. Choose to pray, meditate, set goals, and problem-solve. Or choose to party, smoke, drink, and take part in some recreational stress relief . But understand that each choice has consequences and running does nothing. One thing you learn growing up is that problems don’t disappear because you’ve ignored them. And you only realize that after old problems have come back to haunt you with a vengeance one time too many. As you start to learn to tackle your problems head on, learn to tackle them with the right reactions. After all, that’s all we actually have control over… kinda.

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