"I'm Still Here."

It's been a tough few days for so many people that I care about. Lies, illness, even the deaths of a friend and of a parent. And my heart breaks for the pain that they are enduring right now.

But they are strong, each of them. They are surrounded by people who love them and they will get through all of this that is happening. They have to, because in spite of the pain, this life is still beautiful and amazing.

Hang on, friends. This will all pass. And there's no way that it's stronger than you.

I'm okay, I'm alright
Hurricanes and trainwrecks only last one night
Would you believe all I've been through?
Held the hands of tempted fate
Oh, if you only knew
What it costs, how I paid
What I got, what I gave

Chorus:
I'm still here...
After the heartache, after the storm blew through
I kept me and it saved me
I'm still standin', right where you left me
On a cold dark cloud, with nowhere to fall but down
Like a single, naked unrelenting tear...
I'm still here

There was darkness, all around me
There were times that I was sure I was drowning
There were people, who tried to reach me
But no matter how they loved me, I kept sinking
When I got tired of my own hell, I reached inside and I saved myself

This time I can survive
I ain't dying on nobody else's cross
I ain't sufferin' no more unforgiven loss
Oh, no

I'm still here...
After the heartache, after the storm blew through
I kept me and it saved me
And I'm still standin', right where you left me
On a cold dark cloud, with nowhere to fall but down
Like a single, naked unrelenting tear...
I'm still here
I'm still here

"No One Is Coming To Save You."

My friend posted this recently as his Facebook status, and it really resonated with me. I think many of us wander through life with this ridiculous notion that someone, or some thing, is going to save us. We play the "if only" game until it paralyzes us. 

• If only I was 50 pounds lighter, I would like my body. 
• If only I didn't have a mortgage, I could afford what I wanted. 
• If only I had a better job, I'd enjoy working. 
• If only I could meet the right person, I'd be happy. 

And on and on it goes. But the truth is, I could work harder to lose that 50 pounds. I could pay more towards my mortgage. I could learn new skills and fight for a better job. And years ago, I could have worked more on making myself a better person instead of wishing for someone to come along and make me happy. But it's easier to wait for someone or something else to make it happen for me. 

Ultimately, there is no one else coming to save me. If I am to enjoy this life, to truly live and love and accomplish and create and every other wonderful thing I hope to do, I need to hold myself responsible for making it happen. Sure, I'll likely find others along the way that will help me, but I cannot hold them accountable for what happens to me. My life is about my choices and my actions, and the sooner I accept and embrace that, the sooner I can truly get to living.