Pencil Pushing and Rubber Caterpillars

Have you ever looked back at all the people that have in some way changed your life and thought, "where the hell did you go?".. because quite recently I've realized that among all of the amazing people I talk to now, I've realized there have been others who thought I wasn't worth it or others who I thought were not worth it, and it's slightly depressing to think of how easy it can be to push someone completely out of your life. Also, on the other hand, it is almost amazing how much it might hurt to push someone out at the time, and then realize that it was the best thing you have ever done.


I've met some "gems" in my day, let me tell you. I've never claimed to have all the answers, or be perfect, and it is true that I, Sarah Randles, have honestly misjudged people and let others take advantage of my friendship. Nowadays, I'm living a life that keeps me smiling every day, and that's a big deal considering life wasn't always like that. I'm not here to tell anybody how to live their lives, I'm only saying that people should, perhaps, think deeper into situations or friendships. I've recently evaluated my past relationships/friendships and since graduation I think we can all see how much life has changed. Either someone we thought we knew turned out to be someone else, or maybe we, ourselves, have gone through a change. Maybe we've realized who we really are. Now we come to the point I have been trying to make. Perhaps we push these people out as a coping mechanism for change. Perhaps we let others enter our lives as a coping mechanism as well?


I can only speak based off my own life experiences, but I have seen things happen that appear to be consistent throughout people's miserably ridiculous lives. Maybe by using these coping mechanisms, we are helping ourselves move on to better things, or maybe we are tricking ourselves into thinking our lives are better. In my personal experience, I realize that the people I was with were not helping me, but holding me back. Nowadays, I have met some pretty ridiculously awesome people, and I've gotten closer to others that I have neglected talking to before. I've been much happier by learning how to recognize what is good for me and what is bad for me, what is good for others and what is bad for others, what will make me a happier person with more of a life filled with purpose.


What is best for you, might not always be down the easiest path, however it might end up saving you tears in the end. Never hesitate to question your life. As Socrates said, "An unexamined life is a life that is not worth living". Are your friends not one of the most influential parts of your life? It should be easy to understand then, that who you surround yourself with, can possibly shape you into who you will be in your future. I will say that at least for me, my future went from bleak to dazzling in a matter of months and I've never been happier. 


To everyone who deemed me unworthy of their time (though I guarantee you're not reading this, but it's just good to get it out there anyway.. as a good form of venting, of course lol): 1) I'm sorry you're missing out on the new me. 2) Because you closed the door, I climbed out the window and found pure, genuine, people who bring me closer to happiness than you ever did or would be able to. 3) If you lie, you don't deserve anyone in this world. 4) Other than this blog, I hardly ever remember we were ever together at any point in my life. 5) The songs we used to sing, no longer remind me of you. 6) The paper still bleeds, but I've finally stopped.


By recognizing people who will bring you down to make you feel better, you can live your life and move onto better things. Such as getting together via texts with new friends for red wings games and serving as their personal lucky charms, or driving out to pets'mart to look at betas for no apparent reason, or hell.. even terrorizing people at target because if you don't enjoy the simple things in life, you tend to forget what really matters in the first place.


“Sometimes you've got to let everything go - purge yourself. If you are unhappy with anything . . . whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you'll find that when you're free, your true creativity, your true self comes out.” -- Tina Turner