Aim Your Arrow

I came across this quote today:

"An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward.  So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it's going to launch you into something great.  So just focus, and keep aiming."

I think this accurately reflects my not-so-recent new outlook on life.  I may not do all the things I want to do when I want to do them, but if I keep moving forward, I'm bound to get to something great that I may or may not have expected.  And shake off the difficulties.  Get rid of the people/places/things that hold you back and hold you down. 

I live my life believing in what people show me to my face.  If they act nice, if they offer to help, if they seem trustworthy, I believe them.  It's not until they show another side that I decide they are not who I thought.  This may seem naive or ignorant to many of you, but it's really allowed me to see the good in people, and I imagine that I may have encouraged some people to actually be what they outwardly seem to be in the process.  That's not to say that this hasn't backfired on me.  When someone shows their "other" side, I wake up to the fact that they were not who/what I expected and I move on.  I don't always give them multiple opportunities to correct their actions, but sometimes I allow them a second or third chance.  Once they've proven me wrong (that they are not the good person I assumed they were), I release myself of their company.  There's no need to have them around me if they're not genuine.

The same idea goes for things.  I have progressed with a lot of decluttering in my home recently.  It's been tough, but I've had to really think "Do I love this enough to keep it around and keep cleaning it?"  This thinking has allowed me to release over two years of old magazines, at least 50 pieces of clothing plus additional shoes, two comforters, multiple sets of curtains, and various tchotchkes (from Yiddish and Polish origins, pronounced "chotch-keys," and referring to knickknacks or trinkets).  I will loudly admit that I have recently given away (and blessed others) with gifts from close family and friends.  If I don't love it and I won't use it regularly, it's out of the house.  Regardless of who gave it to me.

So join me in my quest to become less stressed (and cluttered) and held back by people and things around you.  Aim your arrow and keep plugging along until life launches you into something great!