You Can Do Hard Things

It’s a popular phrase these days, “You can do hard things.” But it’s true! I know for me personally, I’ve had to face a lot of hard things over the last 8-10 years… And hell, look at what we’ve all been through the last few years – I won’t even get into that!

There was a time I would have never imagined myself as the confident woman I am today (for once I’m not even referring to my body/taking up space confidently & unapologetically LOL) living the life I am.

It hasn’t been easy and at times the journey has been downright grueling, but it’s worth it. Every step of the way I’ve had to remind myself I can do hard things (as well as have others around me tell me & remind me that I can too!)

And you know what? I’m not unique! We all have strengths and abilities… and you probably haven’t even tapped into some of them because you don’t think you can do hard things.

But you can!

I’m going to share a story with you…

My car is paid off!

In 2018 I was able to get a loan for my adorable “Betty” – a 2013 VW Beetle. ⁣

This was a HUGE milestone for me.

For many years I was a broke single mom on food stamps & receiving section 8 help (it covered a large portion of my rent). ⁣

For many years I had collection agencies up my a**, wages being garnished, bad credit, and not knowing how I would ever pull myself out of the pit!

Eventually, after getting sober in 2012 (and a relapse a few years in & then getting sober again) I started doing what I heard around the AA tables “do the next right thing” and that meant facing the debt and bill collectors head-on & filing back taxes. It was a b*tch and a very looooong road to clearing stuff up and rebuilding my credit. ⁣

In 2015 I tried for a car loan.

Denied.

In 2016, denied again & told I would never get a loan without a co-signer because of my credit. I walked away knowing I would continue driving old unreliable clunkers then because I wouldn’t ever put someone else in the position of being responsible for a debt of mine (which a co-signer would be if I didn’t pay). ⁣

But here’s the thing – I kept doing the next right thing no matter how hard it was.

I kept being proactive with what I could do to build my credit.

Fast forward to 2018.

Finally! When the car salesman sent my paperwork to my bank, he heard back quickly (within 30 minutes) that I was APPROVED! Awesome except for one minor detail – I had to have $1200.00 for the downpayment. But I had it and was able to get the loan ON MY OWN.

I cried as I signed the paperwork.

It was something so insignificant to others but such a huge MILESTONE for me. Reminding myself how far I had come over the years…

I don’t share this to brag. I share this to remind you that you can do hard shit! It’s probably gonna suck but you can do it!

My journey was a long one and it’s still one I’m working on and even still struggle with (I still have a HUGE IRS debt hanging over my head that eats away at me mentally & sometimes I don’t know how I’ll get out of the situation but I just keep plugging along on my monthly payments because that’s all I can do!)