Major Violation

Someone broke into my car right after the new year. Here's the quick rundown.  So, we had another snowmaggedon in the ATL. That means 1 inch of snow, and the city gets shut down. I happen to live in a treehouse: literally. There are 43 steps to get to my house.  Subsequently, the driveway to my house is like going up a roller coaster ramp.  There’s a pic here, just so you know I’m not exaggerating. That being the case, the hubs and I decided to park a car at the bottom of the hill when snow and/or ice come, so we don’t get stranded in the house and can’t get out.  Smart, right?  Well...

Some bad a#% kids (in the snow and ice and everything), decided it would be a great idea to break into my SUV.  My favorite car ever.  And, take everything out of it.  And, leave their Swisher Sweets Grape wrapper inside.  All of the driver side windows were destroyed, knocked out. They tried to get in through the trunk, so they broke the latch that makes it available to get in and out. They took some stuff, which was fine. But, here’s the point of it.  What they really did was violate my family and me.  They didn’t just steal my stuff.  They stole my sense of security.  My belief that humanity is good.  Or, at least they tried to.  Well, they did for a couple of days, (if I'm being totally transparent).  And I mean exactly two.  For two days, I was like, "The world sucks."  And “These bad a#% kids don’t have ISH else to do but mess with hardworking people.  Where are there parents?”  I also thought, "How will I ever feel safe here?  They were 43 steps from my front door!  What if they looked inside the windows?"  I’ve never had anything stolen or broken into like that in my life!  Except for when this girl stole my favorite pair of shoes when I was 15, or when this crack addict that my mom “adopted” (another story for another day—we didn’t know she was a crack addict) stole all of her jewelry.  But I mean me personally—I’ve never had that stuff happen. It shook me for a minute.  So, yeah I was pissed and scared all at the same time.  For two days.  Then, I got back to myself.  "People are stupid, especially kids," I told myself.  "It was just crazy kids looking for something to do."  And, "You know, Michelle, this is why you volunteer with organizations to help children.  To help lessen this in the community."  You know, glass half full kinda thinking.  "Thank God they didn’t come into my house," I thought.  Of course, if they would have tried, they would likely have slipped on the ice and snow on the steps and broken every bone in their undeveloped bodies. (Come to think about it, maybe they should have ventured up that death trap). Stop it, Michelle.  That's mean.

Anyhoo, the point is that when you know your core, your true beliefs, your true selves, life may try to shake you, but it should be easy to get back to your center.  Stuff happens; It always will.  But, always try to get back to your center.  Don’t allow anything or anyone keep you from being who you are: an incredible being designed by the most incredible person in the history of mankind (and before).  Now to get to that person may take some work. We don’t always start there.  But, that’s another blog post.  For now, here are a couple things to think about when life tries to un-center you:

1. Take time to get it out and be mad. We all need time to freak out, be mad, scream, kick holler, cry, whatever.  But don’t miss that step. It's key to re-centering.
2. Re-center. Remind yourself that things happen. They always will, good or bad.  Put yourself back at the stage where you remember that you are equipped to handle what comes at you. Think about the ways that you can be different or better to avoid disaster.  And then remember that sometimes it’s just unavoidable.  It is what it is.  (I hate that saying).
3. MOVE ON!  Life awaits you, friends!  And, it will happen, with or without you. So, don’t deprive the world of your awesomeness. You being bitter and mad hurts us, but it hurts you more. 

As for me, I settled on the fact that some crazy kids needed something to do, and I was the target. I don’t care to know why, I’m way past it.  I’ve got my pride and joy back in my driveway (Thanks Allstate.  Apparently, I'm in good hands).  So, I’m good.  On to the next, my pretties! 

Talk soon.