I share my triumphs on this blog.

And I share my less-than-triumphs, too.

Because that's life.

I don't want Empowerment Coaching Global to become a place where everything looks perfect, every story has a beautiful ending, and every difficult moment gets wrapped up with a pretty bow.

That's not my life.

Maybe it's not yours either.

I'm still overcoming things.

I'm still dealing with pain. I'm still taking medication that helps me manage that pain. Sometimes that medication makes me loopy for a while. There are parts of my day when concentrating is difficult.

And then it gets better.

Later in the afternoon, the fog begins to lift. I can concentrate. I can work on the things that matter to me. I can advocate. I can write. I can plan. I can keep building my life.

Is that the way I would have designed my days?

No.

And I'm still here.

That's something I've learned to say differently.

I don't say but.

I say and.

I'm in pain and I'm moving forward.

I've experienced disappointment and I still have dreams.

There are things my body doesn't do the way I want it to and there is still so much that I can do.

Some days are difficult and some days are beautiful.

I've had triumphs and I've had less-than-triumphs.

Both belong to me.

Neither one tells my entire story.

As long as I'm breathing, thinking, and able to move forward in whatever way is available to me, I'm going to keep trying.

My way may look different.

My timing may look different.

My path may look completely different from the one I imagined years ago.

And I'm still going.

I'm still an advocate.

I'm still building Empowerment Coaching Global.

I'm still pursuing the things I want for my life.

I'm still learning.

I'm still growing.

And yes, I still have my own things to overcome.

Being an advocate doesn't mean I've overcome everything.

Helping other people find their voices doesn't mean I never struggle to use mine.

Encouraging somebody else doesn't mean I wake up every morning feeling encouraged myself.

It means I'm human.

Maybe that's why I want to share both sides here.

If I only showed you the victories, you might look at your own difficult day and think you're doing something wrong.

You're not.

Sometimes getting through the day is the triumph.

Sometimes getting back up is the triumph.

Sometimes waiting for the fog to clear and then using the hours you have is the triumph.

And sometimes you accomplish something huge.

Celebrate all of it.

I don't know what you're facing while you're reading this.

Maybe you're tired.

Maybe something didn't work.

Maybe your body changed.

Maybe somebody told you no.

Maybe you're looking at the life you planned and realizing you're going to have to create a different one.

Okay.

And what comes next?

That's the question.

Not "Why isn't my life perfect?"

Not "Why can't I do things the way everybody else does?"

What can I do now, with what I have, from where I am?

I'm still answering that question for myself every day.

And as long as I can answer it, I'm going to keep moving.

I will have triumphs.

I will have less-than-triumphs.

I will have days when I'm clear and days when I'm loopy.

I will have pain and moments of joy.

And I will keep going.

No "but" required.

You got this.

And so do I.

I pivot. I don't quit.

LIVE. DON'T JUST EXIST.

— Kelli Frederick, M.A. Founder & CEO, Empowerment Coaching Global LLC empowermentcoaching.global