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What do you do when you’re thrown a curveball? 

How do you react when the wheels start coming off of some grand plan you had?

Are you ever able to get over being left behind/passed over/being criticized/minimized or demoralized?

How do you keep getting up when the universe keeps knocking you down?

Well, there’s alcohol. But that’s probably not the best solution. And don’t drown yourself in country music. That’s not the answer either! That’s all about heartbreak and disappointment (and tequila.) So here’s my story.

Sometimes my paintings just suck. But I never give up trying to make the next one right.

At times I hate my job. But I don’t quit it, and I never stop making the extra effort to do it well.

Many many times, people I’m close to disappoint me. But I don’t write them off. 

But it can be so hard to put one foot in front of the other when you feel stuck or powerless to move.

I live alone and have for many years, so when I get down, it’s mostly just me and my funk. But, I’m also my best cheerleader! Like everyone who’s older than 5, I’ve had some dark days. I think if I were to illustrate a timeline of my life so far, the days that were the darkest are ultimately the ones that show up brighter than the rest. I might not see those positives right off the bat, but eventually, when I’m being kind with myself, I understand that my reactions are what defines me the most.

When life has thrown you under a bus, of course it feels like crap. I don’t know about you but I can wallow in that crap for a little while, but soon enough, it just feels crappy to stay in that place. 

In a recent blog (https://www.pattheartist.com/blog/171783/the-music-of-life) I talked about giving out “atta girls” or “atta boys” to help buck up someone’s spirit. Over the years, I’ve landed on a small way to buck myself up in case no one else is there to do it for me. That is the photo that accompanies this article. Little affirmations scrawled on a Post-it note. A passing remark that struck a chord so I jotted it down. A stupid little tchotchke seen somewhere that resonates. I have many random notes and fortunes from cookies stuck in my life that for one reason or another, gave me joy or hope or relief. 

When the stars are all aligned and life is clicking along on all cylinders, those affirmations are less important. But I never take them down–not because I think I’ll always need them, but it’s nice to know they’re always there if I do.

I hope that if the world presents you with tough days, that you find your own affirmations to help tide you over. In the meantime, feel free to use mine!