mother nature's sewing machine

"If it's a broken part replace it,

If it's a broken arm then brace it,

If it's a broken heart then face it

And hold your own,

Know your name, &

Go your own way

Everything will be fine

Everything, in no time

and our hearts will go on"

- Details in the Fabric (by Jason Mraz)

 That song is one that has helped me along more than I might like to admit. The words are applicable to anyone and any situation. It is so simple, and yet so haunting and beautiful. The idea is so basic and seemingly obvious, but somehow contains some of the most wise and insightful lyrics I have ever heard.

I find myself humming this when I feel stressed or worried, and it always calms me down. It reminds me that there are ways of fixing things that are broken or lost, and that I should take a deep breath and remember that everything will be fine. It is so hopeful, so supportive, and I want to share that with all of you. 

We all have had times when we feel like we have to hide from the world, make ourselves so small that we become invisible. But you have the right to be here. You have the right to take up space.

Because, whether you realize it or not, you have something about you that no one else in the whole world has, and that is the undeniable ability to be YOU. Whatever your background or history, you are you. It's just a fact. The best you can do for yourself is to let that shine.

You. It's that simple. All the little awful things in life (the details in the fabric, as it were) are just the scenery. There may be things that make you panic or worry, but they are all just a part of the process of defining yourself, and showing the world, and more importantly, yourself, that you will not back down.

You alone know who you are. I know that sounds tacky and cliche, but it's true. No one else can tell you who to love or what dreams to follow or how to live your life. Because they are not you. And you simply cannot let those outside forces make you feel like any less than you are worth.

Moreover, and perhaps most important of all, you can't beat yourself up. You just can't hate yourself. You can't afford to dwell on your dissatisfactions. All that negativity will just stir around inside you and eat at your soul, and make you miserable for no good reason. 

You see, we are all human. We all make mistakes, and we all have flaws. But those mistakes, those flaws? They DEFINE us. They make us ourselves. They determine how we think and how we dress and how we live. And that is wonderful! Embrace your flaws, because without them you would not be you.

You have passions, and desires, and fears, and all of those things allow you to keep moving forward. Sometimes there will be hiccups, and when there are, you just have to take a deep breath and remember that everything will be fine. Prepare yourself for the next obstacle that life will throw at you. You may be surprised at what you can achieve.