You Can Do Hard Things
It’s Cesarean Awareness Month.
Having been through an unplanned, emergency cesarean, this topic is near and dear to my heart. So I’ve been thinking about how to share what has been on my mind about this subject recently.
And I realized it’s bigger and more than just cesareans.
I realize that it relates to any kind of birth trauma.
In fact, it relates to life in general.
“That won’t happen to me. Nothing really, really bad ever happens to me!”
Have you ever said this to yourself? I know I have.
Don’t we all start off with innocence, trust and hope in our hearts? Of course we do. We go through life expecting and looking forward to the good things coming. And the beautiful, crazy, wild ride of life sometimes takes us places we truly never even dreamed we would be.I try my best to live in the present moment and enjoy the life I have today. Sometimes I even forget that I’ve been through really hard times. In spite of the hard times, I have this belief in my heart that life will be good and happy and sweet. And that I will make it so.
No matter what life throws at us, we go on. We face the next day. We cope and find strength in the moment to do what we must. We decide that the next day will be better… and most of the time it is.
Those of you who have had an unplanned, unwanted cesarean may recognize this thinking; “If this is the way that I have to bring my baby into the world for our safety, I can do it and I will do it and I will be okay.” That strength, that ability to sacrifice and push forward and go through the physical pain, recovery and healing to where you can function normally again – that is amazing. Truly amazing.
No matter how hard it was, you carried on. Your family needed you. Your kids needed you. Your new baby needed you. You needed you. You forged ahead with bravery and determination. You picked yourself up and with one step in front of the other you kept moving.
“It’s not going to kill me. I will still be alive. I’m going to be okay.“
Have you ever said this to yourself? I know I have.
Somehow the faith in myself that I WILL get through it, that I WILL survive no matter what – the belief that things will always get better and life WILL be good – has kept me going and given me strength when I needed it.
Those experiences that push you to the point of nearly breaking, where you have to tell yourself – “It’s okay. You will survive,” no matter how much we wish we didn’t have to live through them, no matter how hard they are – those are the experiences that make us who we are. Those are the experiences that make us stronger, smarter, more courageous and grateful for the goodness in our lives.
I still believe it’s best to go through life putting our trust and hope in the world that it will be a good world and it will be a happy, sweet life. Because most of the time it is – most of the time life is good.
Your own confidence and belief in YOU makes a difference. You CAN do hard things. You can get through them and come out the other end stronger than ever. Life may knock you down, but you WILL be okay and you will get back up and keep fighting. It’s who you are.
