We are all human.
What that means to me is it doesn’t matter who you are, we are all fair game to have the good, the bad and the ugly happen to us.
Where am I going with this?
I just had lunch with a dear friend. One thing led to another and it was shared that her son had some addiction issues. It was then that I felt very comfortable to share my story with addiction issues in my family.
As simple as that. We had a bond.
It took us to a new level in our friendship and a deeper connection.
I like to say, pulling back the curtain, showing our true self.
I was reflecting on a recent post I saw of Christina Applegate. She was sharing her recent diagnosis of MS. My heart sank and I needed to find out more of her struggle.
Why did I feel the need?
I feel that we connect with others when we see ourselves in them.
I have adored her as an actress and gained incredible respect and admiration after hearing her story battling breast cancer, years ago. We all know someone in our life who has had cancer and she did it publicly and showed the human spirit sharing her story.
The good, the bad, the ugly.
So again, it was through her sharing her recent diagnoses that she is connecting and helping us all:
Be brave
Be vulnerable
Be honest
When life gives you lemons…sometimes it’s really hard to make lemonade, or want to drink it.
The power, wisdom and strength comes from watching others and seeing it can be done.
We all love a good underdog story.
Oprah: grew up poor, Black, female, in Mississippi. She just knew she wanted to teach…and does she ever have an audience.
Kobe Brant: “Hard work and dedication will get you there.” Practiced everyday at 4 a.m. before anyone else was in the gym.
Steve Harvey: “Never give up on your dream.” Slept in his car for years, homeless, and got a break at the Apollo Theatre. And is a highly successful comedian and entrepreneur who stayed the course and is doing what he dreamed of.
I could name 100 people that have overcome to “make it”.
“Making it” means different things to everyone. For me, it’s about overcoming obstacles.
Christina Applegate
Michael J. Fox
Selma Blair
All dealing with health issues that give me pause.
It brings to light that we are all here.
Human beings having a spiritual experience or spiritual beings having a human experience.
Is it by chance or fate or luck or lack of?
I believe we are all here to learn a lesson or if we are truly blessed to learn many lessons, and with that gift, to share with others along the way.
There is a reason to pass it on, to pay it forward. How brave to be honest and share the wins and yes, the losses.
This is what builds intimacy with each other.
I have also learned something just as important, that just because one chooses not to share their experience outloud, it does not mean they don’t feel the pain of their experience.
A quiet person feels just as much as one who shouts.
So we honour both and just understand that this is one journey we are all on together and for that reason, we know we are never ever alone.
Xo