Keep Your Head Up

In the famous words of the late Tupac Shakur, “Keep your head up.”

I live in Houston, TX. On August, 26, 2017 hurricane Harvey made landfall on the Texas coast as a category 3. While Harvey did not directly hit Houston it’s effects were devastating to the 4th largest metropolitan area in the country. The hurricane system stalled over the state in just the perfect position for Houston to end up on the “dirty” side.

Houston, no stranger to flooding proceeded to do just that. Roads flooded. Houses and businesses flooded. A good part of the city was underwater. People lost everything. The morale and energy of the city hit a low. Harvey was the worst hurricane to hit Texas since 1961 (Wikipedia).

A few months later the energy in the city was infatuating. Houston was bustling with excitement and expectation. The Houston Astros were in the World Series for the first time in years. It’s all that anyone ever talked about. There was a sea of orange Astros shirt everywhere you went. TVs in every restaurant and bar across the city were fixated on the Astros. And that was before they won.

November 1st, the Houston Astros won the World Series for the first time in franchise history. The Astros flag hung beneath the Texas flag which hung beneath the United States of America flag. It was beautiful to see. Everyone was on a high. There was a renewed sense of pride and connectedness. Schools closed. Businesses let out early. Millions of people gathered downtown for the winners’ parade that Friday. (I was not apart of the million because I don’t do large crowds).

“You’ve got keep your head up, keep fighting, and do the best you can.” – Pablo Sandoval

If you didn’t know you wouldn’t have been able to tell that this city was literally underwater months ago. You wouldn’t have known that the citizens of Houston and other cities across the state where underwater emotionally and spiritually as well.  For a moment, we were drowning in fear, confusion, uncertainty, and loss.  We were at an all time low.

The win made me want to cry tears of joy. In August, we were experiencing one of the most devastating times in our city. Months later we were witnessing one of the most beautiful. It just goes to show that bad times don’t last always and God really does give beauty for ashes.

[bctt tweet=”Bad times don’t last always and God really does give beauty for ashes.” username=”charlene_dior”]

Circumstances can and do change in an instance. And for the better. I know that a lot of times when we think of life changing in an instance we’re thinking about the tragedies of life. We’re focused on the floods. But life can and does change in beautiful ways in an instance as well.

Knowing that life can be beautiful after a season of rearing it’s ugly head makes it a bit easier to keep your head up. You can keep your head up because you know “things will get brighter.” And they will. We just need a reminder sometimes.

Related: Time is An Ingredient

No one is immune to discouragement or hanging heads. It hits us all at one time or another. It lingers when we’re reaching for more and have yet to see the fruits of our labor. Trust me I know.  Yet I also know that you (and I) can’t give up. We can’t hang our heads in defeat or cower under the covers.

We have to keep our heads up even when it’s a struggle. One month you could be drowning under a flood of disappointment. Another your cup could be running over from the joy of an unexpected but much needed win.

From one moment to the next your life can change. If your head is hung low you won’t even notice the new thing that’s happening. If your head is hung low you won’t be able to spot divine opportunities or intuitive inspirations. Keep your head up. Be ready for the next season of your life. Be ready for your big break.

“Keep your head up and be patient.” – A. J. McLean

I think people give up on life and dreams because they don’t realize that seasons change. They carry their head in a perpetual hang not knowing that spring is just around the corner. Seasons change. Victory follows defeat. Triumph follows trials. Breakthroughs follow obstacles.

So whatever you may be going through is not permanent. That’s why it’s called “going through” not “staying through”. You go through hard or discouraging times. You stay through the good times.

Related: 5 Truths When You Find Yourself Wondering What You’re Going to Do

If life has you feeling a little disappointed, frustrated or defeated don’t give in. Don’t give up. There’s beauty for ashes. There’s World Series championships for floods. There’s hope for every disappointment.

Keep your head up.