As I get into my car, I put on my seat belt next check my mirrors and shift the car into drive. The year 2020 is now in the rear view mirror getting smaller and smaller as I continue to press my my foot fiercely on the gas pedal, as if my foot was planted there and the roots are too strong for my foot to break. There is only what I can see in my windshield, last year is disappearing. In the express lane of change no longer waiting in traffic going nowhere stuck in place. Radically changing for the better, I have a decent amount of miles under my belt already the only question is, where to next?
when my dad was teaching me to drive he has always said "When you're driving where is your main focus? In the front, you glance back from time to time to make sure other cars don't creep up on you but your eyes are always to the front" That has stuck with me till this day. Only now I know he was also talking about life. The rear view mirror is your past your present is in the driver seat and your future is through the windshield. The choices you make in the car like "where to go?" , "right or left" are mine.
This year I want to finally let go of looking back constantly. I want to focus on me, my right now and making me the best version of myself that I can be not only for me but, for my kids. In order to be the best you have to keep your eyes front and focus, be in tune with your surroundings, be well rested and have quick reflexes for whatever will jump in front of your car. I don't know what is waiting for me down the road but I do know that I'm no longer going to be afraid It has been a bumpy road so far I have gotten tough tires to deal with the rocky terrain.
I will make me a priority the driver needs to be at their best everyday otherwise they cause accidents. No more sleepwalking through life,I'll be awake and alert ready to go. No more letting my insecurities and depression get the best of me, behind the wheel I am cool and confident. I am a strong independent beautiful women, who finally has opened her eyes to see how true that statement is. If 2020 Had given me anything it is the gift of sight.I was able to open my eyes and not just look but really see my life. See how even though times are hard, that I am also very blessed. I hope to carry tht over to the new year.
Life is like the first time you get behind the wheel, your terrified, but once you do it to the point you don't have to think about every little thing, it is easier, it can still be scary but it also is one of life's grand opportunities. I found learning to drive daunting, I failed the test twice from being so nervous, but I went back till I passed. I will continue to keep going in life till I get it right. Here's to 2021 the road of happiness I may take the scenic route but I will still get to where I'm supposed to. That is my hope for this year.
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I Didn’t Burn Out From Working Too Hard — I Burned Out From Caring Too Much
I didn't burn out from working too hard. Nah, the real reason I got burned out was caring too much. "I always thought burnout was about working too much, but it's actually way more nuanced." "Working for extended periods." Deadlines, ugh. Always on the go. Nah. That wasn't me, for real. I actually didn’t burn out from work itself. I just ran out of steam trying to care anymore. I just cared too much, you know? It all comes down to doing things right. It's tough when you really don't want to let folks down. Being the strong one means you're always there for everyone else, never really showing your own struggles. You just deal with stuff without making a big deal out of it. It felt pretty cool at first. Folks counted on me. They really put their trust in me. They needed me. I liked that. I just really enjoyed feeling important. Needed. Useful. But over time, caring slowly started to feel more like carrying a burden. I really felt the weight of everyone else's stress on my shoulders. Other people's expectations feel a bit like carrying baggage that isn't yours. Other people's problems. And I never stopped to check myself. I was really tired when I agreed to that. I showed up empty-handed. I really just ignored all the signs because I didn't want to upset anyone. I figured that made me tough. It didn't. The burnout didn't hit like a bomb. It just kind of snuck in. Quiet. It's really slow. You know that feeling when you wake up, and you're just... wiped? Like you haven't slept at all, even though you just spent hours in bed. It's a bummer, really, to start the day already feeling completely drained. Ugh, it's those tiny annoying things that just get under your skin, right? Things I really liked: It just didn't hit the same way, you know? Some days, even brushing my teeth felt like a huge effort. My least favorite part was probably the constant feeling of needing to be ready for anything. It’s hard to just relax when you’re always anticipating the next challenge. No one could see it. My life looked good. That's the main idea. Normal. "Inside?" Empty. I'm not sad. Not angry. Just done. That's the sort of emptiness you feel when you pour all your energy into everyone else and leave nothing for yourself. Being there for everyone else, always, but never really for yourself. Then someone hit me with a question I couldn’t dodge: When was the last time you did something just for you? And in that moment, when the unexpected happened, I just froze. I just couldn't recall. That really caught me off guard. I realized I only made room for others, never for me. I used to think that being selfless meant I was strong. "Rest = lazy" is definitely not true. "Boundaries = failure." I just kept going. Never paused. Didn't check in. Burnout doesn't really announce itself, does it? It whispered. "I just don't care about the stuff I used to anymore." Not 'cause I didn't wanna. I just didn't have anything left to give, you know? That really startled me. So I started doing something weird. It was uncomfortable. That really freaked me out. I just started saying no. Quiet. Not rude, just straightforward. Just being honest. No. I'm not able at this moment. No. I really need a break. No. I don't have it today. It just felt bad from the start. It felt like I was blowing some test I didn't even know I was taking. "Everyone would just think I was weak." But the world didn’t fall apart that day. Folks got used to it. A few of them understood. Some just didn't get it. And you know what? That was fine. I figured out that being caring doesn't mean you have to destroy yourself in the process. It's about knowing your limits. It's really about valuing yourself. You can be kind without getting drained. It’s possible to support others without sacrificing your own well-being. It's totally possible to care deeply about things without letting it drain all your energy. Burnout really showed me something important: You know, rest isn't something you have to earn. It's not a prize for working hard. It's okay to slow down; nobody needs your permission. It's totally okay to not give everyone all of yourself. When that heavy feeling creeps in, it can make everything feel a bit much. I paused. I'm here. I asked: “I wonder if I have enough energy for this.” It's like, when you give too much of yourself, and totally forget your own needs, that's not healthy. That's not strength. You know, that really sounds like self-neglect. I'm not going to mix those up anymore. It's true, we often put others first and forget about ourselves. Remember, you deserve care and attention too.
By Beshoy Zayer5 days ago in Motivation
📢 Raise Your Voice Thread: 01/22/2026
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By Raise Your Voice by Vocal2 days ago in Resources
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