Own Your Story

Own your story.  Stop walking around it.  You're not entitled to anything so you better play the hell out of the cards you're dealt.  You want your life to look different?  Stop waiting and do something about it.  Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is gonna change if you don't.  You've had your heart broke?  Too bad, who hasn't?  Can't get over it?  Feel stuck?  Unless you want to stay feeling that way, forgoing the opportunity to be loved (and love) again, do something about it...get some counseling, dig deep and do the hard work, figure out why you're so stuck/hung up on Mr. or Ms. Wrong For You/Heartbreaker and make peace with the fact it didn't work and then trust that something better FOR YOU will come...once you give it a chance.  Don't like your job?  Find another.  Your house, your car, your savings account, your health, your friends, yes, even your family, where to vacation, and so much more are ALL UP TO YOU...if you choose.  Not happy?  For the love of God...do. something. about. it. 
Own your story.  This one is yours.  Don't let someone else write it and then discover you're super disappointed with the outcome.  The last chapter, hell, what FEELS like the whole damn book, may seem like crap - but, if you're still standing, there's another chapter to write.  Life's not fair - thanks for that advice, Mom - but it's true.  It's not.  I wish it were...that somehow if we played our cards right and treated people with kindness and (almost) always played by the rules we wouldn't get hurt, wouldn't have shitty things happen to us, wouldn't accidentally hurt others, wouldn't feel disappointment, wouldn't get smacked upside the head with a big ole' dose of reality from time to time...you know, if life were fair, "life" wouldn't happen to us.  But, that's not how it works so might as well get over that.  Shitty things are going to happen, that person you love may choose to leave/never be able to love you the way you want them to, the "flat tires" are going to happen, and, yes, you are going to be the reason someone else has that shitty, life isn't fair day from time to time.  Just try and minimize those if at all possible because damage control is messy and tends to have lasting effects way  beyond whatever it is we initially did - you know, miscommunication, hurt feelings, harsh words, unsaid words...etc.
Own your story.  Get inside of it.  Stop tip-toeing around the edge of it hoping that if you don't get in deep you won't get messy.  Trust me, messy is going to happen.  But, and here's the really good part...beautiful, indescribable, incredible, can't believe this is my life in the best way possible is gonna happen too.  And those are the moments we live for.  Those are the highlights reel.  Those are the paragraphs that lie within the mundane chapters that if you appreciate them make the story...your story...worth reading.  
Own your story.  You don't like something?  Seriously.  Do something about it.  You love something/someone...appreciate it/them and don't take the time/moments for granted.  Because, well, let's be honest...it can all be gone in an instant.  We screw up all the time.  And...life happens...to us all.  Make the most of what you have.  Right now.  Not what you had yesterday or last year or five years ago.  Live the life you have TODAY.  I know.  It may not be what you THOUGHT you would be doing, and initially you may be super disappointed, but I can guarantee one thing...if all you do is think about that one fact, you will miss something great for sure.  Best thing I learned in college - wait for it - we cannot control others, we can only control our PERCEPTION (i.e. our THOUGHTS) about the situation/person.  Did you hear me?  Remember what I wrote the other day about trying to control my thoughts in the hopes that I can then guide my emotions?  Yeah, that.  I can't make someone love me.  I can't keep bad things from happening sometimes.  I can do everything possible to show others my best side, but sometimes things get turned upside down and no matter how hard I try bad things happen.  I can't control how someone else reacts or feels.  I can only control how I react, how I perceive/think/feel about the situation/person.  We must own our thoughts, words and actions.  
Yes, sometimes life sucks.  I'm not going to pretend that it doesn't.  But, honestly, if you really look, there are way more moments that don't suck...they just don't speak as loudly most of the time.  Look for those.  Seek them out.  Find the people who will lift you up and help you through the sucky spots, and then help you focus on all the magical moments surrounding them.  Those are the people you want to share your story with.  Those are the characters I want in my book.  Live my story with me.