Stepping away from the college...
First off, how are you doing today?
I always like to ask because there might be someone out there that does not get that question asked on a daily basis.
So, I had a lot of posts on social media about my health. Well, it's hard to process that you got some things that you need to take of and you've procrastinated way too long. However, my posts were impulsive and quite disturbing to some people. Those were distractions, a way to distract yourself as a subconscious trauma response.
A part of being a good leader, or role model is to know when you just need a break. Your body will tell you over time itself. By taking a step back from college and the place in general, I've realized certain aspects that might be helpful for someone else.
1. You are human. Not a machine that is only satisfied when results or expectations are met. These expectations of perfectionism can consume the person from within.
2. You can not control everything around you. It could be your job, the task, your peers, the environment that you're in. These are all considered external forces. The only thing that you can control are your thoughts, your behavior, your actions, your decisions, what you say, and the tone of voice of which you talk. Hence, your internal forces.
3. It's perfectly normal to show emotions, it doesn't make you less of a person, man, woman, leader, or a corporate executive. By expressing your emotions in public, it's raw and natural. Not everything is perfect in life. You will have your moments.
4. You have to cope with stress in a positive and safe manner. That could simple be listening to music, going to the gym, or taking a drive. These are called coping strategies. There's a million out there, you just have to find the right combination that's right for you. Self-Care Baby!
5. Make sure your needs are met before taking on someone else's. Make sure that you ate that day, that you have taken a shower, or that you stepped out of your dorm room.
6. You don't have to be on this straight and narrow path that your parents pushed on you. The road to success has speed bumps, potholes, and detours. Hell, I've turn around a couple times on this road. For some, graduating college will be the greatest accomplishment in their life. Don't be weary, you'll make it one day. Just take it one day at a time and not all at once.
I'm going to be completely transparent with y'all. Being a young adult with no proper role model, I've struggled for years. It's okay, some of us has had it rough. Shit, I manifest that into the personality I have today. "Mom". I've literally been through it's all by now. But, I try to make sure that that the community thrives by being a stable force. Well, reality check, you can't have your shit together at 22. That's normal. I wish it was like the Taylor Swift song.
At the end of the day, be yourself. You are not weak if you've cried. You are not alone. Speak up for yourself. Remember these, if anything. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.
Sincerely,
Machaela "Mom" Short
Damn, I sound like a millennial. 😂
YOU ARE READING
The World Through My Eyes: Poems, Short Stories, and Journals
Non-FictionThese stories and poetry reflect on my own life. Enjoy. :) The harsh reality of the truth. I'm a college student from Appalachia. Trying to provide a good life for my family. You can pick your nose, but you can't pick your family.
