I used to think “If only…..”
And then it would dissolve into a small pity party. Complete with big sighs, some tears, and probably some eye rolls.
“If only Callie didn’t have a heart condition or her limb difference.”
“If only I wasn’t a diabetic.”
“If only insulin wasn’t so incredibly expensive.”
“If only we didn’t practically live in the hospital.”
“If only we were healthy.”
Until we flipped that narrative.
And started thinking about it a different way……If I wanted something, THEN what would I need to do? I started re-framing it as if we were chasing a goal…..and what the action items would be to achieve it. If we wanted to do something, what would the necessary steps be to get there? If we wanted to live our life in a certain way, what would we need to do to have that?
If……then.
If I wanted to keep my head above water, then I needed to acknowledge the grief I was experiencing.
If we wanted to move forward, then we had to stop looking behind us.
If we wanted to run a 5k, then we needed to get Callie a running blade. And start training. Feet to the pavement.
If I wanted to be a thought leader at work, then I needed to raise my hand more and become confident in finding my voice.
If we wanted to be able to motivate people, then we needed to be vulnerable enough to share our perfectly imperfect story with the world.
If we wanted to be at home in our bodies, then we had to stop tearing them down. We had to celebrate them and all that they were gloriously capable of.
If we wanted to flourish, then we needed to bloom where we were planted. Embrace each challenge and celebrate every victory.
If……then.
If we wanted to be brave, then we had to stand up to our fears.
If we wanted to change the face of beauty, then we needed to advocate. Challenge the big brands and advertisers to include people of all abilities.
If we wanted to chase our dreams, then we needed to be healthy. Eat well, drink water, and move our bodies.
If we wanted to protect our peace, then we had to make sure that we were selective about the energy that surrounds us. Cultivate a tribe of like minded loving people.
If we wanted to impact others, then we needed to have courage and be kind.
If we wanted to inspire others, then we needed to show up every day as our authentic selves. No one is inspired by how perfect we are….they are inspired how we have pulled ourselves out of darkness and into the light.
If we wanted to make sure the world was inclusive for Callie, then we needed to advocate for her. Sometimes needing to educate those close to us as well as strangers.
If I wanted to be a writer, then I needed to carve the time out in my schedule to write. I needed to put words on paper every day.
If we wanted to be powerhouses, then we needed to lean in. We needed to shoot for the stars, dream big, and call our shots.
If……then.
If you have a dream, then what are you doing to achieve it?
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