For far too long I was negative about the things that I was unwilling to accept for what they were. I lived in a state of negativity. I believed that if I wanted to find my happiness, I had to use power moves. I would make things an issue when they were not. I did not see the whole picture as a means to gain my own satisfaction. I didn’t understand that things are just what they are. My needs were being met and served in the way I needed for my place in life.

As many of you know, things have changed greatly in the last few years. I was unwilling to understand what was happening. I did not see that things came with their challenges. I needed to be patient and understanding of the challenges that came with doing things differently. Things were just not what they used to be. When my needs were unmet, I wanted others to pay for the perceived hurt. Even when I caused my own anger, I wanted others to pay for the perceived hurt. This was true even if it was not their fault. I wanted to inflict my personal pain on them. I used a ‘gotcha’ tactic. This made them want to give in. They conceded to what I thought I wanted to demand. I did not understand that some things were not as bad as I was making them out to be. In fact, they were the way they needed to be. They were never intended to be that way. I had to learn to accept this for what was supposed to be all along.

I felt angry and upset with things. The way things were did not adhere to my standards. This was not the reason I had to move away. I was forever coddled and given what I wanted. I was not made to follow the rules because of who I was. As new people came into my life and new things happened, those who coddled me left. I realized I had to follow rules and directives that were given to me. I also became aware of the expectations in the places I was in.

I had to accept that I would not be coddled for acting like a child. I realized that I was making a big deal out of something that wasn’t exactly what I wanted. Fighting or making demands to get my way was no longer a solution. It had the capacity to backfire due to my wrongdoings. Not having the latitude given to me in the past made me see beyond the negativity in my life. I had to be willing to accept things for what they are despite my feelings. Caring for my mental health was paramount in the process. It made things easier to manage as challenges came their way.

Life isn’t always what we expect it to be. It sometimes takes seeing beyond the negativity that I have seen for so long. Accepting things for what they are, despite their difficulty, is essential. This acceptance makes me mentally capable and well. It helps me keep things in check and be the best self I can be.