News Flash...

.....It's not all about you!  No, really, it's not.  You may think it is, but no, it's not.


**Editor's Note:  The following post refers to no one person in particular.  It's a general rant, if you will.  I'm sure there is a piece of this in all of us, at one time or another.  So take from it what you will, maybe, at the very least, it will cause you to think.


Sometimes I feel like the general population is bursting at the seams with martyrdom and narcissism.
Let's throw out some definitions of the two:


Martyrdom - extreme suffering; torment.  (I'm referring to the perceived or self-inflicted form of this.)
Narcissism - inordinate fascination with oneself; excessive self-love; vanity.


First off, you're not a martyr.  No really, you're not.  You don't have any more or any less stress, problems, issues, obstacles, that other people either don't have, possibly much worse, or have had at some point in their lives.  So get over it.  Do what you can do today, then do what you can do tomorrow, and move the hell on.  Stop complaining, stop whining, stop thinking the world is against you, stop looking for answers outside of yourself, and STOP turning away from God.  Plain and simple.  


Second, you're not so amazingly fantastic that everything needs to be all about you, all the time.  Don't get me wrong, nothing wrong with loving one's self - very important.  Self-confidence, self-esteem is not what I'm referring to.  What I am referring to is the constant need of a narcissist to think that they are above everyone and they are all that matters most of the time.  Because it's not the case.  Not at all.  And while you are busy looking in the mirror (metaphorically speaking) other people are laughing at your selfishness.  It makes you appear simple minded, not strong.  And it's not how we were intended.  


It was intended for us to be giving, compassionate, selfless, loving others (key word - others), due unto them as you would yourself.  


And guess what, when you start to focus on the good, on the blessings, on the people around you...surprise -- good things happen, for you and around you.  You don't have bad luck, no one is out to get you, people aren't more fortunate than you -- because fortune is all relevant.  


YOU make your luck, your fortune -- through prayer and faithfulness; through optimism.  Does it take struggle and heartache to reach through the darkness sometimes -- yes, of course.  But you're not the only one who's ever been in the dark.  My guess is that your darkest moments, aren't necessarily nearly as dark as some others.  


We get through it, we live to fight and love another day.  


Don't hide yourself away in self pity, in stress, in loathing. 


We only have one life to live.  Stop living in the self created shadows of being the martyr, the victim, or in extreme vanity.


Everyone has been dealt lemons at some point, make lemonade, hell, grab tequila, whatever it takes.  But stop being so damn uptight!


It's not all about you.  Really.  We are all in this together.


xoxo