You Have to Share: the importance of sharing your story

Allow me to introduce myself...

So corny, LOL! But I do want you to know who I am, because it's important. I've always been taught that it is a privilege and a honor to gain someone's attention, so to make sure that what I say or do adds value to their time. I hope that my blog adds value to your time today...

So... I'm 36 years old. I'm married to my amazing wife Melissa, the most beautiful person in the world, both inside and out. She and I have been married for 3 1/2 years now, and we have forever to go! We have a 7 year old sassy maltipoo named Gracie, and she is a true diva! Last year, we took the biggest leap of faith in our entire lives, and adopted an angel, our beautiful and perfect daughter Langston. She has been with us since the day after she was born, and she is the joy of our lives! I never knew that love like this existed, but the moment I saw her, I knew just how incomplete my life had been before her. That's the nice, fluffy, PC version of who I am...

I am also a former alcoholic, former porn addict, and former bully. I have battled and defeated depression, I have overcome suicidal thoughts and attempts (yes, there was more than one), and I struggle daily with obesity of the highest degree. I am also a worship leader and preacher. I have been in youth ministry leadership for over 20 years. I am a former gospel rapper. I am a published author (Google me baby, LOL). I am funny. I am sarcastic. I am aggressive. I am a straight-shooter. I always tell it like it is, even to a fault. I love hard, and I don't handle loss well. I'm competitive. I am bossy. I am all of these things. If I had to describe myself in one word or phrase, I would call myself "a complicated harmony." Beautiful and difficult, tough to achieve but worth the work. (Btw, I am so far out of my comfort zone right now, but I was willing to take the risk because this is my story... and I have to share!)

Why do I have to share, you say? Because my story is important to someone... and so is yours!

So often, we hide who we are. Maybe not all of our true selves, but we all reserve a portion of who we are. Now, I'm not talking about the private things that we should keep to ourselves. I'm talking about the parts of us that we are either scared of, ashamed of, or uncomfortable with sharing with the public. Maybe you don't tell people about your taste in cuisine because you fear that people will think of you as weird or simple. Maybe you don't share your sense of humor because you are worried that other people won't "get it." You could be like me, maybe you're afraid that if people know the dark areas of your life that they won't like you or treat you the same. I want you to know that these fears/concerns are totally legit, and you are right to feel like that...

But as one of my good friends teaches, you have to do it afraid! You aren't wrong for feeling the way you feel. Let's face it, the world is becoming increasingly cruel and ruthless, and to show the imperfections of your life in today's society is a roll of the dice, and one can only hope that they don't come up snake eyes. I have come to realize that it's worth the risk of embarrassment if my story will help someone. I would rather have the entire world laugh at me and turn on me, than to keep my story to myself and never help the person or people that it was meant to help.

See, your story is important to someone other than you. In fact, your story isn't for you at all! When Dr. Seuss wrote "Green Eggs and Ham," he could have kept it for himself. But had he done that, children's literature might not be what it is today. His stories weren't for him at all, they were for tens of millions of children to read for decades and centuries to come. Ask yourself this question, "Whose world can I change with my story?" I guarantee you this, the answer will never be "Nobody." Your story matters. There is a life waiting to be changed by your story. Your life experiences, your views, your past, it may have been mayhem for you, but it is medicine for someone else.

I would love to tell you that my blog is about a man who has it all together, but that's not true at all. I don't have it all together, I mess up on a daily basis, and miss the mark often. But my prayer is that my flaws and failures somehow encourage others to keep pressing on and to keep pursuing life. Everyday you will have victories and defeats, and somedays it will seem as if defeats are the only option on the table. I want you to find the strength to share your story. I want you to admit that you're afraid... and then do it afraid! I want you to show your scars and be someone else's answer.

That's who I am. Encourager. Challenger. Real talk specialist. Scar-showing, flaw-displaying motivator!

I'm just sayin'...

TRT

#perspective #outlook #newlife #lifelessons #story #people #life #lifestyle