According to the circumstances I was born into, I shouldn’t be where I’m at today. Statistics are in favor of me having a drug or alcohol habit, kids out of wedlock, high chance of living in poverty, no college education, etc. In short, my life should be a lot harder.
But instead I’m a college graduate (Go Wildcats!), have been a part of countless leadership teams and organizations, won a bunch of awards, presented at national conferences, coached and mentored young leaders and athletes, and consistently worked at least one job since I was 18. And the best part is I have friends and family who love me for who I am!
At one point, I was president of a sorority, working 3 jobs, taking a full class load, and maintaining a romantic relationship. Not a lifestyle I recommend and I’m still not sure how I pulled it off…I will be exploring that later.
So what was the difference between me becoming a statistic vs my current reality of “living a good life”. Well the short answer is love, but the long answer is….
Welcome to the Sandra Rose Blog where I’ll be exploring breaking generational curses, personal and professional development, and sharing encouraging and thought provoking ideas!
Thank you to the mentors who believed in and poured into me, even when I was a punk kid/college student/adult, and my parents and family who were determined for us kids to have better than they had. Special shout out to my English and Journalism teachers because me becoming a writer is largely your fault.
I also owe my life to what I’ll refer to as “The Trinity”, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. My story can’t be told authentically without referring to Them. Even though I’m a Christian and you may not be, you’re still welcome here and can get something out of it. If you’re more comfortable inserting whatever higher power you’d like in lieu of what I say, go ahead! As we say in small town USA, “it won’t bother me none”.
This space is part of how I pay forward the gifts and opportunities I received by sharing what I gained and learned. Plus, I think it’s a lot of fun! Whether it’s for your entertainment or benefit, that’s totally up to you. These will be coming from my past and current experiences, lessons learned from those who are wiser and smarter than me, and probably something I saw on the internet and need to talk about.
This includes:
- Books I’ve read, both nerdy and non-fiction, and what larger themes can be drawn from them.
- Lifestyle tips and advice. A.k.a. me trying things and reporting back – beauty, wellness, lactose free cooking, baking, etc.
- Personal stories that maybe you can learn from to avoid the mistakes I’ve made. There are many.
- Good stuff to make you smile.
If you choose to engage with this space I’m creating, please be kind, respectful, and have a sense of humor. The big boundary, however, is that shame and blame aren’t allowed here so don’t bring it in.
If we’re gonna talk about the hard stuff, it needs to be in a place of vulnerability. Shame and blame choke out vulnerability, connection, and healing like no one’s business. If you’re confused on this concept, read one of Brené Brown’s books or wait for me to make a video or write a blog about them.
This isn’t my soap box where I say I’m better than others, perfect, or have it all figured out. For example, it’s taken me years to finally get this blog going because I’ve been so hung up on making it perfect. This may or may not be the 3rd draft of the same intro…but I’ll never tell.
There is going to be a lot of cheese coming up, so if you need your Lactaid pill, take it now.
I believe there is a lot of darkness in this world, but the sun always rises in the morning. Or for those above the Arctic Circle, in the summer. Our circumstances don’t define us. Generational curses can be broken. People can change. Forgiveness and healing are possible. But those things aren’t attainable overnight or alone.
At the roots of a good life are faith, hope, and love. From there you grow sprouts of courage to show up and try. You gain a thick skin of resiliency from getting back up after your failures. Eventually, you find yourself in a garden with others, producing blossoms and fruit that are a sign and gift of what’s possible. And here’s the best part, you can repeat the process unlimited times, grow in different ways, and be just as good in a winter season as spring, summer, and fall. And you can start at any time.
With authenticity and humility, I invite you to come with me on this journey.
Growing with you,
Sandra Rose
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