Ever feel like life is constantly just taking a shit on ya? Yeah well me too. Most people will experience a time in their life, no matter the length, where it seems everything has gone wrong, and bad news just keeps piling up. Well the way I see it there are two options: Get buried so far in the shit pile on top of your life it swallows you entirely, or shove it to the side, drink some lemonade (or vodka whatever floats your boat), focus on the good, and deal with the bad when you have time.

A friend of mine recently reminded me of something very important: While embracing your feelings can hurt you to your core, they also all you to feel the truest and most abundant joy. Disconnecting from your feelings may prevent some of the hurt, but will also prevent the best of the happy. Disconnecting has the consequence of living in the gray zone. Who wants to live in the gray zone?

Remember this: every day, there is a conscious choice to be made about how you feel. No, feelings can not be avoided. Sadness and hurt are inevitable-- however, they do not have to control your days, or your life. Know your hurt, own it, and utilize it to help you appreciate the good. I am so happy on the daily because I know what it is like to have my heart hurt to the point it became a physical pain. When I felt true pain I knew it was not something I wanted to live with, so I made the conscious decision to appreciate the good, even through the bad. Cliche or not, there is a silver lining in every situation, I suggest you what is good instead of everything that is bad.