Blind Can You Can

Tag: health

  • Say What You Mean, Live What You Feel — Life’s Too Precious to Hold Back

    Say What You Mean, Live What You Feel — Life’s Too Precious to Hold Back

    We’ve all heard it before — “Life is short.” Or “You only live once.” (YOLO, right?) It’s become such a cliché that it almost loses meaning. But lately, I’ve started to see life from a different angle.

    To me, life isn’t just short — it’s a gift. Whether it’s long or brief, smooth or messy, life is something to be unwrapped and experienced, not managed or measured.

    I think what people really mean when they say “life is short” is that life is precious. And the most precious thing about it is time. Because time is finite — you can’t get it back once it’s gone.

    Yet, so many of us spend that precious time holding back — holding back our words, our feelings, our truth. We tiptoe around, trying not to rock the boat, trying to please everyone. We form habits that keep us inside the lines so no one feels uncomfortable.

    But here’s the kicker: we still get frustrated when others don’t follow the same rules. We get jealous when someone speaks their mind, lives boldly, or says “no” to something we didn’t have the courage to refuse. They get to live freely while we sit there wondering, “Why not me?”

    Now, don’t get me wrong — there are definitely things worth holding back. Like that punch you want to throw at the grocery store when someone cuts in line, or that not-so-friendly gesture you imagine giving the guy who cuts you off in traffic. (Resist the urge — we’re not trying to star in a road rage video here.)

    But when it comes to spreading love, joy, and kindness, we hold back far too much.

    We don’t say “I love you” enough because we think it’s awkward, or that the other person already knows, or that showing affection somehow makes us weak. We don’t laugh enough, play enough, or express gratitude enough because we think adults are supposed to be serious.

    We tell ourselves that fun is for people with too much time or too much money — and since we have neither, we’d better stay focused, stay tough, and get to work.

    But here’s the truth: life isn’t meant to be a nonstop grind. It’s not all seriousness and sacrifice. Showing love doesn’t make you soft. Smiling doesn’t make you unserious. Laughing doesn’t make you irresponsible. It makes you alive.

    So, say what you mean.
    Ask for what you need.
    Love without fear.
    Laugh without guilt.
    And don’t wait for a “better time” to be yourself — because this is your time.

    Whatever you call it — YOLO, life is short, time is finite, or my favorite, life is a gift — don’t waste it hiding behind a tough exterior. Be real, be vulnerable, and let your true self shine.

    Learn to live a little, give a little, love a little, and have fun a little. You might just find that life feels a whole lot richer — not only for you but for everyone lucky enough to be around you.

    💭 Call to Action:
    If this message made you pause or smile, share it with someone who needs a gentle reminder to live with more heart and less hesitation. Subscribe to my blog for more reflections on mindset, joy, and living authentically — one imperfect, beautiful moment at a time.

  • Control What You Can — And Let Go of the Rest

    Control What You Can — And Let Go of the Rest

    Let’s be honest: most of us are control freaks in one way or another. We want certain outcomes, we pray, we plan, we hope, and we wish for things to turn out exactly the way we imagine. But life has a funny way of reminding us that not everything is in our hands.

    There are the “what ifs,” the outliers, the unpredictable moments that throw us off balance. Sure, we tell ourselves to be prepared. We buy insurance, run through emergency drills, and take preventive training. But all of that preparation really serves one purpose—it calms the mind. Because when the real thing happens, all bets are off.

    No amount of drills or practice can predict what life will throw at you. The only thing you can prepare is your mind—to accept.

    Accept the outcome.
    Accept the chaos.
    Accept the unpredictable.

    Good or bad, the outcome is what it is. You can delay it, deny it, or wrestle with it—but eventually, it settles in.

    I think about this a lot when I look at my parents. They meant well. They tried to control every detail of their children’s lives, laying out a “perfect path” for us to follow. They disciplined us when we wandered off track, hoping to protect us from pain and steer us toward success. But here’s the truth—even when you try to control your own creation, life still has its surprises.

    Now that I’m a parent myself, I see it clearly. My son has a mind of his own—just like I did. No matter how much I want to guide or protect him, he’s going to carve out his own path. And that’s okay. That’s life.

    The same rule applies to everything else—the choices people make, their reactions, their actions. None of it is under your control.

    So what can you control?
    Your thoughts.
    Your actions.
    Your attitude.

    That’s it.

    Instead of wasting your energy worrying about what others are doing, sometimes the best thing you can do is stay in your lane, control yourself, and trust the process. With the right mindset, a dash of patience, and maybe a little humor, the rest of the world just might fall into place as it should.

    If this message spoke to you, take a moment to share it with someone who needs a reminder to let go and breathe. Subscribe to my blog for more real-life reflections on growth, mindset, and finding peace in the unpredictable.

  • Death and Choices: The Real Two Certainties in Life

    Death and Choices: The Real Two Certainties in Life

    I learned something at church this week that really stuck with me — so much so that I keep replaying it in my mind.

    We’ve all heard the saying, “There are two certainties in life: death and taxes.”
    But this week, I heard a different version that completely shifted my perspective:
    “The only two certainties in life are death and choices.”

    That one hit me hard.

    Think about it — taxes aren’t truly guaranteed. Sure, not paying them comes with consequences (and a very unhappy IRS), but it’s still a choice. On the other hand, death is the one thing we truly can’t control. Everything else? It’s a series of choices — big and small — that shape who we are and how we live.

    I’ve come to realize that what defines us most isn’t what happens to us, but the choices we make in response.

    Every day, we’re faced with hundreds of choices. Some are simple — what to eat, what to listen to, whether to work out or hit snooze again (I’m guilty of that one). Others are harder — which bills to pay with limited funds, how to raise our kids, how to treat the people around us.

    We choose whether to be positive or negative.
    We choose kindness over anger, gratitude over envy, and faith over fear.
    And even when life feels impossible, we still have the power to choose how we see it.

    We can’t control death — when our time comes, it comes. But we can control how we live before that day arrives.

    For me, that means choosing to see life as a gift from God, even when it doesn’t feel like one. I’ll be honest — my life is far from perfect. There are days (okay, multiple times a day) when I call it terrible. But then I catch myself and make a choice: I choose to turn that frown into a smile.

    I choose to believe that my struggles can serve a purpose.
    I choose to see my life as a gift, even when it’s messy.
    I choose to walk a path of faith and, hopefully, be a small beacon of hope for someone else.

    You don’t have to be a superstar to make a difference.
    You don’t need millions of followers to be an influencer.

    All you need is the courage to make a choice — to live the best life you can, to be kind, to be grateful, and to see every day as another opportunity to do good.

    Because at the end of the day, life isn’t just about how long you live — it’s about the choices you make while you’re still here.

     Your Turn:
    What’s one choice you can make today to bring more light into your life or someone else’s? Share it in the comments below — and remember, you always have a choice to be the reason someone smiles today.

  • Not Every Mountain Is Meant to Be Climbed: Why It’s Okay to Slow Down

    Not Every Mountain Is Meant to Be Climbed: Why It’s Okay to Slow Down

    Someone just shared with me, “The dead people on Mount Everest were all highly motivated.”
    It made me laugh — then it made me think.

    We’ve been programmed since childhood to chase, strive, and achieve. Study hard, get good grades, go to college, get a good job — rinse and repeat. Success was the destination, and rest was never on the map.

    So I pushed myself, harder and harder, chasing every opportunity, every inch of progress. Even when it came at a cost — my peace, my health, my happiness — I kept climbing. Because that’s what we’re taught to do. Keep climbing until you make it… or break.

    No one ever tells you to slow down until it’s too late. Until you’re sitting in a room, telling a therapist your life story, wondering when exactly the joy faded.

    Motivation can be a beautiful thing — but it has a dark side. It whispers that stopping is failure and resting is weakness. Even our education system teaches it: meet expectations, move up, achieve more. But where’s the lesson in simply being?

    Then came my son, who lives with autism. He doesn’t chase grades or goals. He chases happiness. He laughs easily, gets excited about small things, and doesn’t overthink tomorrow. Watching him, I realized he’s living the kind of peace I’d been too busy chasing.

    Meanwhile, I was stressed, jaded, and tired — running toward success, away from peace. But life doesn’t have to be that way. The moment you decide to step off the treadmill, to stop sprinting toward some distant “better life,” is the moment you actually start living.

    Who cares what others think? The world becomes softer and kinder when you stop measuring yourself by someone else’s timeline. Some mountains aren’t meant to be climbed — especially if the cost is your peace.

    So calm down a little. Take the scenic route. Smell the roses. Order the cheeseburger instead of chasing the steak. You already have so much — God has provided enough. The real question is: will you slow down long enough to notice it?

    If this message resonates with you, take one small step today — pause. Take a deep breath and look for one simple thing that brings you joy right now. Then share this post with someone who needs the reminder: you don’t have to climb every mountain. Sometimes, peace is found when you stop climbing.

  • The Fear of Missing Out: Learning to Be Content Where You Are

    The Fear of Missing Out: Learning to Be Content Where You Are

    The struggle is real—and so is FOMO. The fear of missing out has followed many of us since childhood.

    For me, it started early. I didn’t go to any parties in high school. I wasn’t part of the “cool crowd.” So, when I finally got a rare invite to hang out, I tried way too hard to fit in. I said yes to everything. I agreed with everyone. Why? Because I didn’t want to be left out of the next invite.

    Fast forward a few years, and those small, silly choices to “fit in” turned into bigger, costlier ones. I started chasing validation—wanting invisible approval from people who probably weren’t even paying attention.

    And here’s the truth that hit me later in life:
    No one is really watching.
    No one is judging.
    And if they are, it doesn’t matter.

    The only opinion that truly matters is your own. The real question is—are you better than you were yesterday? If you can honestly say yes, then you’re already winning.

    We scroll through social media and see everyone’s highlight reels—beautiful homes, shiny cars, luxury vacations. It’s easy to feel like we’re behind. But ask yourself—behind what? Behind someone else’s life that was never meant to be yours?

    Maybe everyone else is ordering steak, but you just want a cheeseburger. Or maybe you’d love a steak too—but right now, a cheeseburger fits your budget. You’re still eating, still part of the moment. So what’s the big deal?

    Happiness isn’t about matching someone else’s order. It’s about enjoying the meal you have in front of you.

    You can strive for more tomorrow, but today—if you’re content, if you’re present—there is no missing out.

    There will always be another opportunity, another “can’t-miss” event, another flight to catch—literally or metaphorically. And if you miss this one? Don’t worry. There’s always the next one. Worst case, you take the next flight tomorrow. You’re still going somewhere.

    And no—this isn’t “settling.” This is accepting your current season, with grace and patience. Because when you stop chasing what you’ve missed, you make space for what’s truly meant for you.

    So what if you missed out? Accept it. Move forward. Keep walking your path. The next right opportunity will meet you exactly where you are—no catching up required.

    Your Turn:
    Have you ever felt like you were missing out, only to realize later that you were exactly where you needed to be? Share your experience in the comments—and remember, your path is yours for a reason.