...Get off the Roller Coaster girl

I already know what you are thinking ... you're thinking I am going to dive into this blog post today telling you its time to get off whatever non productive, possibly toxic, unprogressive roller coaster you're on and then encourage you to run as far away as possible from the ride and never return again. We all have been told this before- and I know you're totally expecting me to repeat it. Well, plot twist girl... I'm not. I'm not about to tell you that at all. I am actually about to say...

Get over the idea that you are EVER getting off this roller coaster.

Am I scaring you? I'm sorry if I am, I promised this is definitely going to be a feel good blog - keep reading. Trust me.

Let me explain, sometimes we look at an experience, or obstacle and call that specific thing the rollercoaster we want to get off of. In this case in scenario ... okay yes girl get off that specific rollercoaster if it is just not serving you anymore. But, what I am talking about is a bigger picture. I am talking about this rollercoaster of life.

This rollercoaster of life...regardless of what loop you may currently be on or getting through at the moment - is most definitely going to happen again. It's just going to be presented in a different box and maybe a bigger bow. Life is always going to throw you for a loop at some point or another - and it will do it over and over and over again. I feel blunt when I say this - but I know you can agree its probable. Let me dive into my personal experience to make sense of what I am trying to say...

The last year and a half has truly felt like a rollercoaster that I’ve been dying to get off but somehow the ride kept throwing me on new loops. I was on emotional loops, physical loops, mental loops, relationship loops, just LOOPS girl. And even though I had asked to get off more times than I can count if i might add...I felt like I got on a ride I couldn't get off. I felt like I got on a ride thinking it was going to be fun and in all actuality it ended up making me sick to my stomach. This last year and half was like that at many moments in time for me and I have one word of expression: "ANNOYING." Couple more words: "GET ME OFF." Recognize that vibe?

But here is a lesson I am learning and I am sharing with you. One of the biggest things I’m learning and trying to accept about life right now is this- the feeling of getting on a roller coaster and wanting to get off is never going to go away when it comes to life as a whole. Why? Because life is always going to be hard, life is always going to present new ideas, new challenges, new fears, and new scenarios and directions you never saw coming. And a lot of times YOU just don't have control over any of it.

The world introduced us to a world wide pandemic as it did you, (and somehow its still trying to show us its new tricks... queue: "major eye roll") and the emotional, physical, mental effects made me pause in the race and pursuit of my own life. And I am not talking once, not twice, multiple times girl. I’ve been trying to catch up every day and at times right when I start to feel like I am making some good strides, I trip again. But listen, its gotten better.

A year and a half later as the world opens up, and things seem to becoming progressive... I too am finally feeling like I can grasp onto what I once had. I am seeing the vision of what I once saw so clearly and I feel like I can begin again. There has been ups and downs but today, right now, its up.

A lot of this feeling has to do with my thoughts around my career today. You girls know I teach dance and absolutely love it. As a dance instructor, our line of work has everything to do with social and non distancing work, our seasons are 9 months of the year, and our career is solely dependent on others. Impossible in a pandemic to pursue lol. But, guess what babe? It's about to be August 2021 and the new D A N C E season begins. We are all back in business. The rollercoaster may be giving me a break to catch my breath a little bit and I am PUMPED. I promised myself I wouldn’t give up on my passions and work a long time ago. I promised myself I could find happiness in my work that so many people give up on. Covid-19 definitely paused my life in this area but now it’s time to hit P L A Y again.

I couldn't be more excited to get back to doing what I love. I am moving forward, but this one thing is for sure... I am definitely not off this rollercoaster. And you know what? I am okay with that. I am prepared for that. I am accepting that. And I am ready for whatever twist and turn takes me by surprise. And I say that, because if I am still on this roller-coaster and still finding enjoyment in my life - so can you girl. Just wait for it. Brace yourself.

And remember from this girl gang to you: two things we believe to be true as we stay stuck on this rollercoaster of life together. ;) Efforts are always better than promises. Two things you are in total control of in your life are your ATTITUDE and your EFFORT. My attitude is different now. I am not asking or begging to get off this ride. Instead, I am prepared to know whatever twist and turn I am thrown on - I can and will be okay. I say this to say, girl you may be stuck on this rollercoaster with me, but, you can prepare, accept, and adapt. You can learn, readjust, and hold on tight. At hellogirlgang, we are here for you and YOU can handle whatever twist and turn is thrown at you. And you can be ready for when it all gets better.