Lessons Found

When I chose the title “Found Along the Way” for this blog, I wanted to choose something that didn’t limit what I could write about. There are many things found along the way: experiences, lessons, books, recipes, thrift finds, and so much more.

One of the most important lessons I found along the way, and yet one of the hardest to accept, is I don’t owe anyone my time or my energy outside of my immediate family and close friends.

I attribute that being a hard lesson to a few things: I’m a recovering people pleaser and social media + cell phones give people the idea that they’re entitled to our time and energy. Or maybe it makes me feel like if they ask for it, I should give it.

But it’s a lesson found along the way that changed my life. I don’t have to engage in a conversation or debate with someone if I don’t want to and neither do they if I’m the one that initiated it.

I don’t have to answer the phone or reply to a text or request right away.

I live a lot of my life publicly through choice and that can make it feel like I owe people to engage in something, but I don’t.

Having the last word? Another challenge I had to overcome to be able to embrace this lesson. I’m okay with leaving a message on read or just saying “okay” or changing the subject.

I think having a chronic illness pushed me to embrace this lesson. If I get stressed, my body responds with physical pain. It also protects my mental health that I worked on so hard and for so long.

In the age of instant access, know that it’s okay to say no, not right now, or nothing at all.

Take care of yourself: you deserve it.

*please note that I am writing about topics from a list I’ve started as they jump out to me. They are not pertaining to anyone person - no one has made me feel like you need access to me - it just felt important to share today.