Some people know that I am currently in the process of moving, others don’t. So surprise, I’m moving… yes, again. I know, I know… shut up. Anyway, the last month has been nothing short of hellacious. My stress levels have been through the roof. I am physically and mentally exhausted, all I want to do it crawl under a rock and disappear. But, unfortunately for me that’s not exactly realistic. So I have just continued chugging along, slapping a smile on my face and pretending that my world isn’t actually on fire…
While this has been my personal life for the majority of the last year, I really try not to let any one see that. I’ve been like that for most of my adult life, it can be a character flaw. This last week things began to break through the dam I’ve built…
I opened one morning at work and I was alone for a little bit. One of our regular customers came through and we started chatting as usual, until she said she had something for me. She handed me a pin, but not just any pin… this was a Wonder Woman pin. She began telling me she had heard through the grape vine that new big things were coming my way and that she was given this same pin when she was given a new opportunity like mine. I was caught off guard because of how sweet and personal this small gift was for me. It got even more personal when she went on to talk about how in getting to know me, she knows I haven’t had it easy and that I bust my ass everyday. She continued and told me that I was one of the strongest women she has ever met and that she was so happy to have gotten to know me. I stood there in complete shock as tears rolled down my face. Yes, you read that right… I Erika Hopper cried in front of someone and I am admitting it. My heart was so full and even as I’m typing this right now I can feel the love in my heart I felt that morning.
Two days later another regular came through, he’s one of the coolest older gentlemen I’ve ever met. Always listening to old school rap and dropping off boxes of donuts for the crew. He always greets me with a “Hey Sis, how are ya?” and he genuinely wants to know how you are. On this particular day my response wasn’t my usual “Great! You?” it was “Honestly my friend, I’ve been better…” He asked what was going on and I just told him I was overwhelmed with life and my move, the stress was getting to me. He responded with the most unbelievable pep talk I’ve experienced. He told me that he knows me inside and out, my heart and my soul are strong. Not just strong, but really strong. He told me I was an amazing daughter of God and that I can get through anything because of the strength God has given me. I could feel my eyes welling up with tears again, he looked at me and said, “Now don’t you go crying on me girl, I’ll cry too!” I laughed and couldn’t help the couple tears that got away. He told me I was amazing and that I was loved, if I needed anything at all to just ask.
I always boast about the fact that I don’t cry, but this week it seemed like that was exactly what I needed to do. Especially when the tears falling are happy tears. I am really so blessed to have such incredible people in my life and a job that allws me to build relationships with such amazing people. Most the greatest people in my life I have met through my job, how many people can honestly say that?
Fit Mom Happy Life 