I recently participated in the “ChallengeAccepted” campaign on social media. The “challenge” is a social media campaign that celebrates women’s empowerment. It involves posting a black & white photo of yourself with the hashtag “challenge accepted” and indicating who nominated you. I was nominated by two amazing women. The first, a Sister & grade school classmate. The second, a Sister & spiritual daughter. 💕
I was thinking the other day of where I was 10 years ago. How I craved to be ....“understood”. How I worked so hard to be accepted. The effort & mental energy I put into making sure my actions and words were not misconstrued or taken out of context. When someone didn’t follow up with me - I strained to follow up with them, stretching myself in ALL directions! What I have learned 10 years later is...when people love you they take the time to get to know you. They invest in you... they celebrate you! They don’t look for ways to “misunderstand you” they think the BEST of you, not the worst of you!! Also... and this is soooo critical to accept....not everyone will love you. There are some who won’t see the gift you are.... it’s really ok!! Look for ways to bless others with absolutely “No Expectations” in return.... As you age...you literally don’t sweat the small stuff.... Be passionate about the things that are important to you!! If others don’t share that passion or “don’t get you” LET IT GO!! Rephrase ... let THEM go!! If holding onto them means “contorting” yourself into someone else’s “version of you”... let them GO!! Trust that God knows the appointed time for everyone & everything in your life!! Let go of the past.... move on and move forward...
Here’s to the next 1️⃣0️⃣ years!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Update: As stated, the “Challenge Accepted” campaign is a women’s empowerment effort. I have recently been informed that this social media initiative was created to bring attention to Domestic Violence against women in the country of Turkey. I pray that this celebration of women around the world doesn’t cloud or gloss over the original intention.
