It’s been a while since I last wrote. For some reason, I only write when I’m inspired and guess what today I was inspired 
So much has happened in the last couple of years that has tested my faith. I can honestly say that my mid-twenties have been one of the hardest periods in my life. And even though the journey is rough at times…I can still smile because I know that it is only God pruning me for greatness 
Now on to my post!
Ever since Obama…oops let me show my respect…PRESIDENT Obama’s old campaigning days there’s been so much talk about change. He ran his entire campaign on the slogan ”Change WE Can Believe In.” It still amazes me how such a simple slogan brought so many people together all because we were in such a desperate need for something new.
Lately, I’ve been going through my own changes with some of the people and other miscellaneous things in my life. And honestly, I’ve been feeling out of sync…like something has to give. I’m just tired of making the same mistakes over and over again. It’s like I know better, but don’t always do better.
A prime example of an area that needs changing are some of the f riendships in my life. It’s easy to say “Oh I wish that person would stop doing this or that,” but at the end of the day I can’t change people. Common sense right? I mean it is, but at the same time it’s hard not to want people to do things the way that you want them to.
I was listening to this message by Pastor Paul Sheppard and he said “Stop trying to change people. God isn’t going to change someone just to benefit you…just to make you happy. Instead he’s going to ask you to change!” And for some reason at that very second I had an AHA moment. I can’t change people, but I can change myself. I can change how I react to certain situations. I can change how I deal with certain people. And it makes sense because when you choose to change then people either have to adapt or ship out.
For example, I have a friend that is always late and never calls to say that she is going to be late. This gets on my last nerve! Even though it irritates me I’ve never said anything about it, so it continues to happen. If I tell her “hey can you at least call to let me know when you’re late. I’m not going to sit around and wait for you if you don’t call/text.” Then she’ll either take what I said into consideration or ignore it. But at least now I’ve made it clear as to what I will and won’t tolerate.
I just realize that it’s too draining having to worry about what and why people do what they do. I can’t control how people act or the choices they make, but I can control how I choose to react by being proactive. And so now I really get when Mahatma Ghandi said “Be the change you want to see in the world.” I’ve heard that saying so many times throughout my life, but now I really understand the words behind the saying. If you’re unhappy with something or someone you have the power to change it. You can’t just sit around and wait…and you definitely can’t force things/people to change!
As I move forward, I feel like God has finally gotten it through to me that other people aren’t the problem…I’m the problem! I’m the one who keeps allowing certain things to happen that end up with me being the one unhappy or dissappointed. It’s not about them, it’s about me and it’s about time that I raised my standard bar! I’ve come to learn that when people show you who they really are believe them…lol. I can’t make it my duty to change everything that I don’t agree with in other people’s lives, I can only be responsible for my own growth and hope that others will be influenced by my actions.
And so, when President Obama says ”Change WE Can Believe In” I think you can’t really have change as a collective, without each individual willing to change on his or her own. I’m making a pledge right now that I will not complain about people or certain circumstances (at least try not to…lol) but really start to work on taking control…start taking accountibility. I can only be responsible for myself and pray that God will do the rest. Now that’s change I can believe in
