One of Life's Lessons

This isn't respiratory related but life related. I figured that this might help someone else who maybe struggling or be relatable in some way.

A lot of people know me as being this bubbly, positive, funny, sarcastic, adventurous person. I also surround myself with the same type of people. This wasn't always the case and took some learning on my part through the years.

If you just met me well you probably met the shy version of myself who is also quiet. I'm going to sit back and observe and watch and see how my personality matches especially in a group. I'm also very socially awkward and anxious. Panic attacks do exist. Mental illness is a very real part of my life. Oh yeah that is a thing and yes I am very open about that topic as well!!

When I was 23, I was in a dark and unhealthy place in life. Someone close to me noticed and reached out. The next part is still something that I reflect on even a decade later. She asked me two things, "Are you happy?" I didn't have to respond out loud, but she knew. Then she asked "What would make Rebecca happy? Not your husband (at the time), not your parents, not your employer, your dog, your neighbor, not anyone else, what would make Rebecca happy?!!

Honestly I cried. I had never thought about it. I had always cared about everyone else too much to ever think about myself and what I needed or wanted.

We get so caught up in living life, we forget to take care of ourselves. Sometimes we think we are stuck in the day to day or that we've done it for X amount of years we may as well continue to do it because we have no other options. Maybe we do it because our only option is retirement, insurance, security, fear of change, etc.

Are you happy? If not, what would make you happy?

Your happiness is SO important in life. I'm not talking about goals, or your dreams or where you see your self in the short or long term. I'm talking about your mental and emotional happiness. Are you yourself, as a person, happy? What do or would you need to achieve that happiness?

This allowed me to take control of my life a bit differently from that point forward. It wasn't about what I could do for others but what could I do for myself. To better my mental health and happiness while maintaining stability. Good things fell into place, and positivity followed.

Yes there were challenges!! Where there is good there is bad. Negative things and people grab on and like to drag and tear you

down. The burn is real!! You live and you learn and you grow. And you reflect back to the question "Am I happy?" And it gets easier.

After a while it just becomes this way of life, a code you live by. You live to make yourself happy and if something or someone doesn't make you happy you simply cut it/them off because it's not worth it. You set boundaries and limits if you need to.

Remember your happiness, your mental and emotional happiness is SO incredibly important!!

So ask yourself, "Am I Happy?"

Keep fighting to breathe another day💜

#beccasfight