on the real | figuring things out and grace

I have to be honest: I don't have it all together.  On most days, I'm figuring things out and trying my best to make wise decisions (or pray to God that my decisions are at least good decisions).  For the most part, I just try to stay afloat and sane.  On the upside, my friend commented that I appear "very together," so maybe it's not so bad that I don't feel very together all the time.

Then, I thought about it and I had not always appeared "very together."  So, I'm not sure if it's age or just a lot of practice from disappointments, failures and heartbreak (maybe both), but I believe that perhaps, I finally learned the meaning of grace.  To act with grace.  Even when I want to scream or cry or vehemently lash out at the unlucky person in front of me.  I don't.  I haven't.  In a very long time.  

It's also about choosing battles.  I finally learned how to do it.  Choose which battles to fight, and the ones I do fight, to fight them with grace.  Whether it be in my personal life or in my professional one.  And another thing I learned is that no one is ever really very together.  At least not all the time.  Life is messy, but it doesn't mean we can't act with grace in its messiness.  In fact, I think it makes life much more bearable, easier, and pleasant.  Maybe even amusing.    

The picture above is what I call my creative work space.  I'm a happier person when I get to write, create and just get lost in some artistic project.  It helps me stay together.  I think we all need that, right?