“Keep your head up and your heart open”-Unknown

Having to open my heart to others has been one of the hardest things I’ve had to learn to do. Nevertheless, I feel that if I ask my peers to be honest, I too must be honest. I have realized, the hard way, that by refusing to let people in, you are doing yourself an injustice. You must open your heart to others so that they get to know the real you. I have struggled for many years with letting others know just who I am and what exactly my story is. Everyone has a story. The beautiful thing about our stories is that they are our foundations and have an impact on the person we are today. We learn from our mistakes, and grow from them. So, today I am taking the leap of faith and welcoming you to my life.

Have Your Voice Heard: Become an Odyssey Creator

Growing up as an only child with a father who was significantly absent due to his military career, for many years, my mother basically raised me as a single parent. Yes, I understand there are plenty of mothers and fathers who do that daily, and I am in no way shape or form downplaying the countless strong men and women who do so. However, what I am saying is that growing up as an only child and having a mother that worked full-time while my dad was overseas was hard. However, those difficult circumstances helped mold me into who I am today. When I was younger, my mom had a difficult time finding a babysitter during the summer. Instead, I would just wait at home, alone, until she came home. To make myself food, I remember having to pull a chair from the dining room, so I could reach the top of the stove just to cook. I hated being by myself. Not only did I wish I could just play with my friends, but I missed having someone to talk to. I was so close to my mom, that I would cry and cry when she would leave for work.

I was so used to my dad leaving, that when my mom would leave, I thought she would never come back. I had separation anxiety. Overcoming those emotions were extremely difficult, and still linger to this day. When I was younger, the two people I loved the most were constantly leaving me. My mind couldn’t process the pain or what was actually happening. I was such a young girl. My dad was gone for so long at one given time, that I believed he would never return. When my dad would get orders to be shipped overseas, many times the orders called for multiple months and years at a time. Some days, my mom and I feared he would never return. We had our scares, and we feared for his life. Back then, going overseas was very different and the technology for communication was not as advanced as it is today. My mom and I would anxiously await a 10-minute phone call or a small 2-sentence e-mail. Receiving those, after countless days of waiting, was the best sigh of relief.

Although I am only scratching the surface of the things I have experienced and seen, each of these experiences have influenced me. Whether they be negative or positive, the memories and emotions I felt those years of my life are everlasting. They will always be a part of me and who I am. I’m not writing these instances to receive pity, nor do I want attention or sympathy, but I do want others to realize that just because someone seems like they have their life together, or they aren’t completely open about their past, does not mean they do not struggle with their past. We are all facing our own inner demons and trying to move on from our past. I’ve learned to “Keep [my] head up and [my] heart open” through it all. No matter what adversity I face, I have concluded that it’s okay to open up, emotionally, to others and let them in. We each move at very different paces when we decide who and when we open up to people. However, sometimes we must show each other our hearts to be loved. I challenge you, as you go through life, keep your head up and open your heart. Ask questions, get to know people, hear the words of their heart, and listen to their stories. What you hear might surprise you.