Glitter & Grit
People are often drawn to me for my positivity. I often receive compliments about my amazing smile or eyes that twinkle. Take one look at my bio and you see that I live with a purpose filled with passion. I love to inspire people and help others see their gifts.
I am fulfilled when I am fulfilling others.
Yet, I often surprise people when I publish something dark. I can see it in their lack of response. There is almost this unspoken disappointment as people typically look to me to “feel good.” I am that little speck of glitter that catches the sun’s ray in just the right way and shines for all the world to see. And I love that people can see that about me. But, it’s important to know that I didn’t get this way by chance.
In order to recognize the good — be it in life, in work, in your personal life, you have to know the bad.
This glitter you see comes from grit. It comes from tenacity. It comes from vulnerability. It comes from looking fear in the eyes and saying, “I ain’t scared of you!”
This glitter you see comes from years of standing in the storm, being beat down, emotionally and physically, and getting back up. Every time.
Grit. It’s looking at pain and deciding that it doesn’t control my future. It comes from resolve. This glitter you see is grit that has been worn, over and over, by life, by people. I’ve been swallowed whole, chewed up, and spit out. The people who were supposed to love me most were the ones who did the most damage. And through that, I learned to find love from within.
The light you see, my light, comes from a very dark place. But it’s that dark place that has allowed me to recognize what it is I truly want, who and what is worth fighting for, and most importantly, that nothing, and I mean NOTHING is worth losing yourself for.
I have learned that in life you will face rejection. As a writer, you will face this more often than most. This doesn’t make you a failure. This makes you brave! It gives you grit! Putting something out there, taking a risk, especially as a writer, where the pool is already saturated, that takes guts!
While glitter sparkles and catches your eye, it’s the grit that gets you through the grind. I want you to remember that. Life can’t always be rainbows and butterflies. When tough times hit, they hit us in waves. They crash into us and leave us fighting for our lives. But it’s how we face the storm that will get us through. Grit.
But glitter has it’s purpose too.
You see, if all I focused on were the rough moments, I would never get out of my own head. I would dwell on my sorrows, cast blame, and never move forward. I would block out anyone and everyone, never allowing pain to get in. But in doing so, I would miss out on so much beauty and opportunities.
Glitter is our ability to find light in the darkness. It’s our ability to look at our situation and find the silver lining. It’s looking at another soul and allowing them in. It’s seeing the benefits outweighing the negatives. It’s taking risks despite an unknown outcome.
Glitter is brave in its own right, as it takes a brave person to look at a hopeless situation and find hope. It looks at a stranger and risks letting them in, knowing they could end up heartbroken. Glitter gives us inspiration to face another day after going through hell.
Glitter gives us the ability to see what a gift this life truly is.
So as you navigate life I hope this stays with you. I hope that when you face the tough times that you see that speck of glitter shining off in the distance, reminding you that you’re not finished yet. And in that same moment, I hope you feel the grit, really feel it, and fight all the more harder.
This life and everything in it, is a gift.
You are a gift!
