Change is inevitable. This means that change happens no matter what. There's no stopping it. And there's nothing that you can do to prepare for it in some instances. Hence, the reason why I haven't updated this blog since September 2023. I experienced a lot of changes in my life around the end of last year. All the changes weren't necessarily bad, but it definitely took some time for me to get adjusted to them. I'm the type of person where I roll with the punches. When life throws me a curve ball, I curve with it! I may experience some setbacks and minor inconveniences, but I always end up bouncing back. But just when I thought I was about to bounce back, I experienced the most life altering, earth shattering change ever. My granny was hospitalized in November 2023. It's hard for me to even put into words what I felt at the time all this transpired. I was devastated, anxious, angry, scared, etc. just to name a few. I've never had to deal with health issues of someone who I consider to be a major loved one and caretaker. This change in my life was beyond hard. Because everything that I had done before to bounce back wasn't working. This change was different than any other change I had ever had to go through being that it wasn't temporary. As of February 2024, my granny has now transitioned into long-term care at a rehabilitation facility. This change that I am dealing with is a lot more permanent than I had anticipated. And it's uncomfortable because everything that I have grown to know and love about my granny over the past 20+ years has been taken away from me in an instant. So, now what do I do? Of course, I've been told to do the usual: pray about it, trust in God, have faith, and the likes. Although I know these things are said with good intentions, the real tea is that I'm tired of hearing them. I already know to and already have been praying and trusting God and using my faith. However, that does not get rid of the void and negative emotions that I am feeling in my life from having something so sudden, uncomfortable, and drastic take place. And just because I am having such negative emotions doesn't mean I don't have any faith. It means that I am human. I'm human, and I need more practical tips and strategies to effectively experience my human emotions while maintaining my daily human tasks and responsibilities. ((Newsflash: life don't stop just because you're sad! These bills still need paying!) I've come to the conclusion that praying for strength is not a practical tip to live by in times of unforeseeable change. Trying to push through and continue on as if I'm not falling apart inside is not a sign of strength. I want to demonstrate strength by admitting my weaknesses and shortcomings and figuring out how I can still show up in the world as the best version of myself despite all that is going on around me. Which is why I decided to go ahead and type this blog post...I hope it serves as an inspiration to somebody somewhere. Change is inevitable, and sometimes it brings inevitable pain along with it. You're not wrong, sinning, or being disobedient to God for experiencing negative emotions about how his will has played out on Earth. However, you would be wrong if you allowed those negative emotions to manifest into negative actions that go against the type of person God has called you to be. So, you may have to make some uncomfortable changes while you're experiencing uncomfortable change. I mean why not? You're already uncomfortable anyway! This may look like setting firm boundaries with other, giving up unnecessary duties that take up a lot of time and energy, or maybe even distancing yourself from people who are mentally and emotionally draining. If the change that is taking place in your life has no end in sight like mine does, then you're going to need to preserve your energy for more important things. And sometimes the more important thing is just rolling out of bed in the morning and facing the day head on. Until next time, Teatimers!