I just read this in a quote by Steven King and it made me think a little bit. It made me think back to all the things or situations where I avoided saying something important and meaningful to someone. The things that meant the most to me but I was afraid of someone else’s perception of me. You know those moments where you felt like the situation was immense and way too big for you. You were afraid of the reaction.

Whether it’s simply voicing your opinion or getting your true feelings off your chest, revealing oneself can be a difficult thing to contend with. The thought of rejection and humiliation can be too much for a person to deal with especially in a moment of weakness.

The entire quote:

“The most important things are the hardest things to say. They are the things you get ashamed of because words diminish your feelings – words shrink things that seem timeless when they are in your head to no more than living size when they are brought out.”

If you’ve ever been in a moment where you felt like no matter what you say to someone your true feelings could never be truly understood then you can understand what King meant by, “words shrink things that seem timeless when they are in your head to no more than living size when they are brought out.”

Think about that for a moment. How many times have you wanted someone to know how you felt about them but didn’t have the words to define your true sentiment. Or you just got so nervous that you weren’t even sure if you really made any sense at all. Now compile that moment with that person having a less-than-desirable response. It can hurt A LOT. We’ve all been there and know it’s not fun.

If there’s one thing age is good for, it definitely makes you wiser, but it also makes you more tolerant of how people perceive you. After a while, you really don’t give a shit. As I’ve gotten older I’ve gained a confidence that definitely wasn’t there when I was a teenager or even in my early 20′s.

I’ve always had confidence in my abilities and my talents but I was extremely conscience of how others perceived me. If I could send a message to my youthful self it would be to, “Just let it all hang out, bro! Rock out with your cock out, hold nothing back, and enjoy the ride.”

I look back to moments when I put myself out there, was rejected, and in this space and time it has no affect on me. If anything, those rejections made me a stronger and more presumptuous. The truth is, within time, you’re going to forget it all anyway.

My message: Don’t be afraid of rejection so much so that you would let it interfere with letting someone know how you feel about them. This includes family members, friends, love interests, etc. I’d be more afraid of of not knowing what would happen if I didn’t tell someone how I felt.

Hell, I recently put myself out there and I feel a lot better for it. That person knows how I feel about them and what I think about them. I went out on a limb. I feel better about that than if I had kept those thoughts and feelings to myself. Something may or may not come of it but at least the proposition is out there and declared to them.

Say what you need to say and let the rest iron itself out later. Life is way too short to hold back and every once and a while you might just be surprised at the outcome.

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1. Dear Elijah… A Letter to My Unborn Son.
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To simply put this: meeting him was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. I simply didn’t know how to react. It wasn’t anything I ever expected and seeing this little person opened my eyes and my heart to a new experience and a new love. I don’t have the words to really convey my love and affection for Elijah, my son, on a blog or a piece of paper or how to even express it verbally. I’m still baffled and haven’t really let it all sink in.

This is ultimately not the situation I expected to be in with him and his mother; apart and broken. The feeling of loss and everything else all rolled into one place has me so confused and distraught. I have tried to mend fences with his mother many times and have finally come to the conclusion that her heart is no longer interested in a family with me.

When do you stop and let it all go? As a man trying to mend his family, where do you throw in the towel. After the woman you love and have given your heart to says “there is no future for us,” that obviously doesn’t leave me many options.

At this point I’m taking a break from the blog. Why? I’m afraid of what I might say. And who knows I may end up having a lot to say in the coming months. More than I expected. But for right now, I gotta chill.

The motto for my blog is “Switching gears in life” and that ultimately is where I’m at. I followed a care free path for a long time but now it’s obvious that I have no other option but to change gears and take responsibility for my little man. My little son. He is my light right now. He is what I think about when I’m down, sad and alone. He needs my strength and courage to do what’s right and provide for him as much as I possibly can.

I love you son.

Related posts:

1. Dear Elijah… A Letter to My Unborn Son.
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3. What’s the Happenings?

It’s so cool how life progresses and everyone and everything changes. You literally never know how things are going to end up. So stop stressing and worrying and enjoy life. It’s not that bad. Be optimistic and smile.

We all go through tough times but it’s how you survive them that counts.

Enjoy the video… and yes, wear sunscreen.

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