Sometimes I think I suck at telling stories….or maybe I’m really good.  Nope.  Nope, it’s the former.

When I’m retelling a story, I tend to get excited and this creates an absence of direction in my summation.  I’m just recently coming to this newfound realization and have begun, if you’re lucky, to preface my recapping of events with a forewarning.  A do not enter unless you have a few minutes, if you will.

So who’s coming with me?  Bueller?  Wait, what the fuck?  Where did everybody go?

You see.  That’s what happens when you stray off-topic; you lose your audience.

That’s my problem right there: in trying to incorporate the minute, yet colorful details, I alienate the listener.

I want to be more direct.

Sharing some details is necessary if they are crucial to the story, but the eccentricities that are not can cause one to veer off topic.  There’s nothing worse than losing your train of thought…

Now where was I?  Ah, yes.  Storytelling.  It’s just not my strong suit.

I won’t bore you by any means.  I do have the gift of gab but if you want me to get from point A to B in one straight line, it probably isn’t going to happen.

I’m OK with that.  It’s something I’m working on.

There are many things I’m working on.

Perfect does not exist but better does.  I want to be a better me.  I want to be the best me.

I’m sure you are likely reading this wondering, ‘What is she talking about?  She is perfect.  A ten!  Couldn’t be any better.’  I really appreciate that and am humbled by your kind thoughts, but it’s true.  I’m an imperfect person living in an imperfect world just trying to make the best of an awkward situation.

The only way to improve is to do personal work.  I can only control myself.  Through my actions, I may impact the world for the better, but it starts with me.

There’s so much blame and finger pointing going on.  It’s bullshit.  Own it people.

Take responsibility for your life and the happenings within it.  You are in control more than you realize.

Instead of reacting as a victim, take a moment to look within and recognize your flaws.  Create awareness of the self.

‘Yes, I kind of suck at telling stories.  I know I’ve gotten off track and I understand why you are half-listening to me right now.’  Instead of, ‘How rude?!  I can’t believe you aren’t giving me your 100% undivided attention. Me me me me me.’

Don’t be a stubborn ass and think that you don’t have improvements to be made.  We all do.  The choice is yours.

We are all the same yet we are all so different.  You can’t change others but you can choose to better yourself by identifying and accepting your faults.

The difference between being insecure about your flaws and being empowered to work on them is acceptance.  The strength to work on them comes when you can begin to recognize them before someone else does.  Use this to then curb your old habits.

I’m working on it.

Now where was I?

Oh, yes.

The end.

You cannot change everything around you, but you can create a better world within yourself.

– Shubhanshu Tiwari