taking over...

i'm very close to someone who just can't seem to get her life together. she's constantly complaining about her jobs, her husband, her adorable little kids, and everything else under the sun. she feels like she's overweight (even though she's gorgeous!) and is constantly dieting in the hopes of achieving that perfect body.

mentality seems to be, "when a, b, and c happen, then i will finally be happy."

she goes through jobs like they're candy and always quits within a few months using excuses like, "it's too hard physically," or, "you don't understand how hard it is. no one likes me and i just get yelled at." she insists that if she could just do 'this other thing,' she'll be happy. but when she gets to do that other thing, she finds a problem with it and gives up.

she diets for a few days or a few weeks, but then has a bad day and sabotages her progress.

she belittles her husband and kids, and it's hard to watch because she doesn't see it. she doesn't know much about them, but she could spout of any tidbit of celebrity gossip or update you on any of her favorite tv shows.

it's heartbreaking, really. 

i wish she could see her potential.

i wish she could see that happiness is a choice and you get out of life exactly what you put into it.

it's easy to admit defeat.

it's easy to give up.

it's easy to blame everyone else.

and it's easy to grab another doughnut.

it's easy to justify every single action.

the hard thing is learning that you're the only person who can change your life. that no one in the world cares at all whether you're happy or not, or whether you're skinny enough or pretty enough.

you have to care about yourself.

you are worth more than simply giving up when things get hard.

bad things happen to everyone. and very few people love their jobs.

husbands and kids aren't mind readers, and they definitely aren't trying to step on your toes.

they do their very best.

and you shouldn't ask for more than that.

eventually, you have to take over your life. you have to throw your middle finger to the world and say, "i'm doing this because i WANT it and i NEED it. you can try to throw me down, but i'm saying yes. i'm saying yes now. i'm saying yes tomorrow. and i'll still be saying yes months and years from now, even when it would be easier to say no."

life isn't easy for anyone. it's not supposed to be. but it sure can be rewarding. you can find happiness in the little things, and remember those as you struggle through the hard things. 

it's a choice to be happy, to be something.

and it's about time you started taking over your life.