Unassigned
I am not a hero.
I know, I know. Pick your jaw up off of the floor.
I’ve come about as close to rescuing a kitten from a tree or saving someone from drowning as I have getting a job on Wall Street.
But I think somewhere along the line I was taught to be a hero. In life. In my accomplishments. For my friends.
Whether it’s going to the eighth birthday party/bridal shower/happy hour of the week, volunteering to organize the fundraiser or staying to make sure the project is flawless, we all try to be heroes.
And it’s exhausting.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t disagree with Mariah when she sang, “There’s a hero, if you look inside your heart…” – believe me, I’d never go up against that kind of diva on a public platform, I saw what she did to Eminem. But I think that we need to cut ourselves some slack. Say no to a few more things. Cut out half of the things we do in order to please others and get rid of the mentality that we have to earn happiness.
Because it really is freeing to acknowledge – as my friend Briana so eloquently says – that you can’t be a hero every day.
It’s like telling hustle, bustle, overachiever and perfectionist that they’re not invited to your birthday party. And that your dad can beat up their dad.
The truth is, everyone will survive if you take the day off. Life will go on if you use the word “no.” Hell won’t freeze over if you admit that you cannot do it all.
So save your energy for the kitten in the tree. Or for saving the world. That kinda stuff.
Because you can’t always be a hero. And I promise, that’s okay.
