(Photo credit: Melissa Johnson)
As you already know, last night marked the one-month anniversary of the Quad-State Tornado and upwards of 100 people lost their lives that night as the twister trekked a 160-mile-long path of devastation. The tornado went by just 15-20 miles northeast of my neighborhood and I realize that any town could be hit, including my town and if the storm had originated just 15-20 more miles southwest than it did, we would have been hit.
When something like this happens, it really makes you think and take stock.
And sadly, tragedies such as this drive home such a harsh and cruel truth- life is too short!
Why do I bring this up? It’s because I’ve known too many people who spent their lives under the bootheels of bullies. They spent their entire lives taking abuse and feeling powerless. They spent their lives never knowing the enormous power they had and could’ve used.
They spend a lifetime taking other people’s crap- being used as a dumping ground for the negative emotions and feelings of others- for other people’s anger, jealousy, feelings of insecurity and self-loathing.
They spent their time on Earth never truly knowing their worth and the value they brought to this world and the lives of others. They never knew their own strength and power. Saddest of all, they died before ever knowing the feeling of happiness nor reaching their full potential.
Why?
Because they were never taught to love themselves and that they deserved better. Instead, they were kept blindfolded to their own beauty and importance.
Realize that life is only a one-shot deal. You only get one turn at it. This is why you most make it your best life possible and that means getting rid of the people who subtract from your life instead of adding to it. It means walking away from those who diminish you instead of enhancing you.
Life’s much too short to spend being someone else’s doormat.
It’s time to take back your personal power.
It’s time to take back ownership of your life.
You own your life and you’re the only person who must live it. Your life is yours to live and yours to enjoy.
It’s true that you can’t control how other people behave toward you, but you have full control over whether you allow them to stick around. In other words, if another person crosses a line with you, you damn sure have the power to kick their sorry butts to the curb and keep it moving.
You are more powerful than you know. If you want to make the rest of your life the best of your life, the time is now. Because none of us are promised tomorrow.
With knowledge comes empowerment!
Glad you were spared the storm! Smile while you have teeth! That is a good one. I wish bullies could find more interesting things to do!
Oh, I wish they would too, Sandy. Thank you so much for your uplifting comment! 💖🕊
There must be love message that is universal and reaches every brain cell so this nonsense can stop.
I couldn’t agree more! <3
🙂
Thank you for sharing this inspirational and insightful article. Spot on, Cherie.
You’re most welcome. And thank you for your kindness and encouragement. 😊 💖
You are a rock star for me. Keep blogging and always shining and smiling.
You’re most welcome! And thank you for your kind words! 🤗
Very well said Cherie! I I can relate to everything you said….it was like you were speaking directly to me and thank you ! I use to be that girl that was always someone’s door mat and not seeing my worth; how special and loved I really was….never saw the self worth in my self. There are times i put my self down BUT God always reminds me for I am fearful and wonderfully made in his image( we all are). We are all created in his image…everything God created is beautiful…he makes no mistakes. We tend to listen what others think; most of the time some of use listen to the negative, but we need to listen to what God says ( for his ways and thoughts are higher)-and like you said we need to get rid of the negative, people that dont need to be in our lives. I’ve learned through out the years, when God takes someone out of your life-don’t try bringing them back in your life because he is trying to save-protect us from something. We don’t see what God see’s.
Thank you so much! I’m so proud of you for seeing your worth before it’s too late. When you finally see your worth, it’s a freedom you just can’t put into words. When I read your comment, I realize that your story sounds so much like mine and you’re so right- God created everything beautifully and He never makes mistakes. And we each are fearfully and wonderfully made. And yes, He takes people out of our lives for a good reason. Sadly, I never realized this when I was young but we live and we learn. Again, I’m so proud of you because it sounds like you’ve come so far in the self discovery department and you’re a much freer person now. May God continue to bless and keep you. <3
Thank you so much Cherie! and you are very welcome!
😊🤗
This is such a beautiful piece.
Thank you for that cause that you are dedicating your writing to.
It’s very necessary in this painful world today.
Thank you so much, Jermena! This means a lot! 💖💐
Truly appreciate your beautiful honest writing with such clarity – it is a great reminder that this is one lifetime we have with our choice for what we are willing to tolerate or rise above it.
Thank you so much. You don’t know how much this means. <3
You are very welcome.
Smile whether you have teeth or not.
🤣😂🤣😂 I know, Herb. I thought the meme was funny as heck and wanted to share the laughs! 😜
lol. I know it!
Cherie this was so well written!!!! And it was right on time. Life is definitely to short and we should refuse to be a dumping ground for anybody!!!
Thank you so much, Bella! And you nailed it with that last line! 💖
Glad the storm didn’t “visit” your place, that sounds so terrifying!
I liked the quite “smile while you still have teeth”, made me chuckle!
But you’re so true, one more. Being bullied can make you feel so powerless and it feels like the bullies took away your power and it’s impossible to get it back…
It’s hard to walk away because they’ll surely follow and taunt you for quite some while… But I think I have made it and have been dealing with recovering ever since.
I still have very bad nightmares, I still avoid certain places, songs and movies because they scare the crap out of me. But I’m recognizing that and working on it.
So thank you for sharing this. 😊
You’re so welcome, Cynni. I’m so proud of you for walking away from your bullies and working on creating a peaceful life for yourself. You deserve to live peacefully. Wishing you many blessings and a very happy new year! 💖💐🕊
Thank you! 🤗 It wasn’t easy but I’m glad I’ve been able to… Still dealing with long lasting bad effects because of what they did… 😔
Thank you for your words of kindness 🤗
Wishing you all the best for 2022 as well 🥂 ♥ 🕯
You’re most welcome, sweetie. <3
Life is too short indeed
😀 Yasss!
But the things to be done in it are many
You bet they are.
This post makes a lot of sense. Do you find it easy to scrape off the negativity of the bullies and getting them out of your life?
I do now. But I’ll admit, scraping off the negativity of bullies and being rid of them was very difficult at first. It’s a long journey that takes years but eventually, you’ll get there. 🙂
I appreciate how you made the connection of the devastation of the Quad-State Tornado to how victimization by bullyism is just as deadly and devastating as a natural disaster. We can’t change the mindsets and behavior of others, anymore than we can change the direction of a tornado, hurricane, tsunami, or earthquake. But perhaps we can learn to better enhance and empower ourselves to think, and respond differently when faced with the fangs of our foes. Great message Cherie! 👏🏼🤗🍷😘✨🥰💐
Thank you so much, Kym! You said that perfectly, girl. <3 :D Controlling another person's behavior is like controlling the weather- impossible. That's why it's up to us to learn confidence and how to effectively stand up to bullies.
SPEAK Cherie! STAND UP! 🧍🏼♀️💪🏼🧍🏼♂️
Thank you so much, girlie! 💖💐🌹🕊
As always, my pleasure indeed! 🤗🙏🏼💖
Tennessee does indeed get whacked by tornadoes regularly. Bama and Mississippi, maybe Texas and Oklahoma too. Been all those places, sat through some nasty ones. One in Georgia tore a tall pine from my front yard but did spare the house. Leaving Tennessee myself but not for the tornado sirens – headed home to family. Round about way of agreeing, but family suddenly became real important, fortunately while I still had teeth. Great read.
😂🤣😂🤣 Thank you so much! And I understand. We all get homesick and you should go home to your family. I wish you a safe move and a joyful reunion. 🙂
Yes life is short. We should be good to other people.