Roadtrip Nation

EMBRACE THE STRUGGLE!

Hello! Hannah here. So, this will be my eighth week at Roadtrip Nation as a full-time employee. I can’t believe it’s already been two months! It’s been a crazy ride, and I’m overwhelmed with back-flipping excitements each day I come to work. I feel so lucky and thankful at this amazing opportunity I’ve been given. The trust and support I’ve been shown by my bosses, co-workers, and friends has been so encouraging—and I can’t wait to see how this new project we’ve undertaken turns out!  

As I’ve been processing this new pallet of simulations, I can’t help but keep the struggles of my last year at the forefront of my mind. I never thought I’d make it out of that dreadful period. There were many times that I pleaded with the powers that be for it to all go away and be easy again. I struggled with the stress of not finding a job, wondering if I’d be able to pay my bills on time, trying not to be so heartbroken at watching my parents endure through a bankruptcy, and processing a very traumatic experience with a horrific fire. It was a tough season in my life.    

I think the biggest takeaway from this recent transition from what seemed like an endless black hole of darkness and despair to one of motion and purpose has been this: periods in endless black holes of darkness and despair are extremely necessary and important to the beautiful learning process called LIFE. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?

Struggle is painful; it’s emotionally exhausting, and overall, it sucks when you’re in the crux of it all. But, in the words of Oprah (and I’m sure MANY other wise people), “Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.” Amen to that, sista!

Here’s another one from Christian Jacobs, creator of Yo Gabba Gabba!: “You’ve got to put yourself in those sink or swim situations.” Why is that? Because we won’t ever know what we’re truly capable of until we’re tested in the most excruciating ways. Just think about it. How would the little birdie know it could fly if the momma birdie didn’t shove it out of the nest? Yes, a cheesy explanation, but it’s true, right?

I feel so fortunate to have come out of my struggle to find myself here—enlightened and inspired. I know if I hadn’t experienced those painful moments that left my eyes welling with tears, I wouldn’t have this heart of gratitude for all the things (big and small) going on in my life right now. Even the tiniest, most insignificant aspects, like being able to buy a coffee maker for my parents, became so magnified. This time last year, I couldn’t even afford to buy a value meal at McDonald’s!  

So, I guess where I’m going with this is, we’re all going to find ourselves in those periods where we feel like we’re treading water without any sign of a shoreline. Just keep swimming! Land isn’t too far off. Once you reach the beach, not only will you be surprised/proud/thankful that you made it, but also you’ll have all the more motivation to run after your aspirations with reckless abandon! Embrace the struggle, friends. You’ll make it to the shoreline!

Much love and respect,
hannah j.