Who made you King of Anything?

In case you didn't know, this title was inspired by the song "King of Anything" by Sara Bareilles. That song is FIERCE. I kind of want to stand on top of a table and sing it whenever someone judges my personal life decisions. But that's not what this post is about...

First of all, I don't exactly consider this to be a self-help blog. I basically just spill my guts, life lessons, and personal ramblings here. HOWEVER, my entire soul leaps with joy when people tell me that I've inspired or helped them in any way. I do love helping people and making people's hearts feel better. So I consider that to be a huge accomplishment. 

And second of all, I actually love self-help blogs---the honest and vulnerable ones. So maybe that's where my influence comes from.

But I kinda sorta despise it when self-help bloggers act like they have all the answers or that they never experience pain and struggle. They come across as really preachy and obnoxious. Like...I understand that your job is to tell people how they should solve their problems or whatever, but if you sit there and act like YOU don't have problems, no one is going to take you seriously.

I personally don't want to listen to someone who talks AT me, rather than TO me. When someone makes me feel like they're in the same boat as I am, I'm more prone to listen and take in what they have to say. I relate to them. I don't relate to people who pretend to be robots from Planet I-Got-My-Shit-Together.

I am not a robot. I am a human.

I prefer to read blog posts like this... http://keltiecolleen.buzznet.com/user/journal/17231997/heartblog-hate-myself-little/

And this... http://www.theunlost.com/life-in-general/the-declaration-of-real-the-crushing-of-the-world-of-fake/

And also this... http://tinybuddha.com/blog/its-okay-to-not-be-okay/

So allow me to just strip myself down and be really honest here.

I'm not always happy and I don't always love myself...Sometimes I'm a complete mess and I absolutely hate myself.

I'm not an expert at navigating life and love...I can barely navigate my own freaking neighborhood, much less life and love.

I don't always bust through obstacles like a fearless bastard...Sometimes I stand in front of obstacles and try to will them away with my mind.

I don't always treat people with unconditional love and respect...I drive people away and screw up relationships all the time.

I don't always feel like looking for the lessons within my struggles...Sometimes all I want to do is curl up into a ball on the bathroom floor.

I don't always give the best advice...Sometimes I wonder why people even listen to a word I say.

I don't always know what I'm doing or where I'm going...Sometimes I have no freaking idea.


Self-help isn't about standing above other people. It's about standing beside them.

<3 Madison