Growing up, when I would leave the house, my mother said something very different to me than the typical “Be careful” or “Stay safe.” She would tell me, “Remember who you are.” I never took the remark very seriously, but I never had to until now. I have been in a state of forgetfulness recently in regard to just who I am. I became so disconnected from myself that I worried incessantly, and believed that maybe I was really someone different than the person I thought I grew up to be. My mother knew that I was going to get beaten down by the world and some people who crossed my path, and she wanted to make sure I maintained a firm grasp on my roots, my beliefs and my ideals. I didn’t know until I was faced with it, that the world would try to get me to change these things about myself. And I nearly let it happen. But I know now I’m stronger than that.
When the hustle of life takes over, you can suddenly realize you aren’t keeping track of many other things that were once important to you. When work gets busy, or a relationship blossoms, or the household needs maintenance, anything “extra” may fall by the wayside. I was very focused on one aspect of my life so much recently, that seeing friends, enjoying hobbies, and pursuing goals became “extras” that I no longer made time for. I am now incorporating those things back into my life and enjoying every minute of it. It wasn’t that I was trying to avoid these things, but one part of my life took so much focus and had me worrying so much, that everything else got pushed aside. I’m working to overcome the days of worrying and put as much time as possible between those and the present. Meanwhile, seeing old friends, picking up old hobbies and remembering my ideals are what I choose to spend my time on. Those helped form who I am today. How I choose to spend my time will change again, but all the while, all along the way, I will remember who I AM. They say what we do when no one is looking defines our integrity. We all should do something everyday that we would be proud to tell others about. The efforts will then grow, and replace the things we aren’t proud of. We all should try to live that life, because that shapes who WE WILL BE.
