“Shoot ‘Em Up BANG BANG”: The Danger In Broadcasting Aspirations Aloud.

Hello, Maniacs! I hope you guys are doing well! I’d like to talk about one of my favorite entrees. Hear me out.

I love crabs. They are so tasty when smothered in warm butter, sprinkled with seasoning and whatever spices entice my taste buds.

But have you seen them in barrels? Have you heard the sounds of them crawling over each other, bringing one another down? The barrel is full of them, and if you’re on the top of it, you’re seen as just another rung to climb onto. Reminds me of us as humans; When we see others achieving things, we wrestle with the complicated elixir of joy and jealousy or hate and envy causing us to be in a harmful inebriation.

I have found that those who strive for their aspirations quietly tend to do better at reaching them. No one knows the struggle, the hard work, the tenacity to reach for what we want versus what we tirelessly hope won’t derail our progress. The last thing you need is for others’ opinions to get in your space distorting your steady equilibrium.

When I started this blog, I didn’t tell many people about it. I didn’t want them shutting me out, making me feel as if what I had to say wasn’t important or held any substance for readers to munch on. But the most important thing is that I started! That’s half the battle. I want to talk about two things that have helped me achieve most things in life and the importance of working in silence.

DON’T MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Okay, this may go against one of the things that I preach about. Vulnerability. It is vital and healthy to be open and transparent about certain things and certain subjects, yes. But the downfall these days is that we share almost everything on social media and keep nothing for ourselves. We live for the glitz and glam of entertaining those around us with our selfies, pictures highlighting our pricey fashions or purposeful boasting of our ostentatious purchases.

Am I guilty of this? Certainly! I am only human but have come to recognize that some things should be kept private and shared with few–And by few I mean almost nobody but you and a piece of paper in front of you.

I want to talk about GOALS.

As kids, we are told that we can be anything that we want to be. Remember when the teacher would say that and we all would shout out with enthusiasm about how we wanted to become doctors, pilots, athletes or movie stars?  Do you also remember your peers laughing at you in your face saying “Oh, please, you will never do that!” because of XYZ? Or even worse is if the teacher agrees that it’s not possible for someone like you to be what you want to be? How did it feel? Did it hurt? Or were you able to firmly stand your ground and puff out your chest and say “I can do anything I put my mind to.”

Most of us become dejected as we go through the ranks of education and run into even more doubters and naysayers. That dream that you once had that was supposed to take flight has been shot down by society and its crabs-in-a-barrel complex. And unfortunately, this doesn’t stop as adults.

So, what do you do? Who do you turn to? Who will be there for us in our moments where we are proud of where we are going and we want to share the little victories along the way with someone but are afraid to out of fear of invalidation? Whose arms shall we run to when what we wanted is not what we got and the price paid was a crushing sacrifice that has scarred us for life?

YOUR TRIBE

The foundation at which no storm nor cataclysmic act can destroy. You always find out who your real friends are at the pits of life. It is so rare that you find out who your real friends are at the top of your game. Some of my closest of confidants have earned their positions to walk with me side by side in the light because they never abandoned me in the dark where things were not comfortable, ideal or normal to what someone would consider being easy or convenient to work with.

I cannot stress enough of the importance of having ONE person understand you inside-out, upside-down, etcetera. Many people will flock to you when you have reached a position that they aspire to but do not be fooled; A friendly face growing close can also be in arms reach of stabbing you in the back.

WRAP-UP

In conclusion: Your goals are important! They show that you are trying to better yourself and live a life that you are happy with. Reaching those goals takes time, hard work and persistence, so be mindful of the company you keep. They’ll either be the stairs that support you on your way up or the crabs that push you to the bottom of the barrel!

That’s all I have to say for now! Love you guys! Thank you for taking time out of your day to read my thoughts and digest food for your own mind that I hope can reaffirm what you already knew, teach you something new or give you the insight to get started on your journey of self-care! Be blessed this week, and be kind to one another.

–CAM ❤