Bradley's Homestead

We have all heard the ole’ saying “when life throws you lemons, make lemonade”. Well, a few years back my mother bought me a stepping stone for my garden that read “when life throws you lemons, reach for the tequila”. From that point on I shared the tequila variation of the quote with others. Some saw the humor in it and others would quickly say “you mean make lemonade”. But I am certain that I mean tequila despite the fact that it’s alcohol, considered to be a depressant and the lengthy list of health factors associated with it. On the other hand, lemonade is sweet, refreshing, a summertime favorite and always a crowd pleaser (well tequila can please a crowd as well 😉). Knowing all of this I still must say…

WHEN LIFE THROWS YOU LEMONS, REACH FOR THE TEQUILA! Not in a literal sense but in the simplest explanation… When your life is in disarray and despair, your life is hit with lemons; negative energy. Your upset, angry, frustrated, confused and sad but there is still life in you. No matter what we may go through as long as we are able to breathe then we still have a fight in us. So, let’s not make lemonade; sugarcoat the situation and make it seem refreshing. We must reach for the tequila; the depressant that has broken us and weakened our heart, body and mind attacking our health! Reach for it! Defeat it! Leave it! Conquer it!

Each day when we awake, life is the most precious gift that is given to us. God has allowed us to face another day and that alone is our biggest Blessing of the day. The journey of life that we are on is an endless journey until the day we die. All situations will not be perfect but it is up to us to work towards the best “me” that we can be. The trials and tribulations of life are the tests of one’s patience and endurance. Below is one of my favorite poems and wanted to share because just like any situation, you will rise.

STILL I RISE

by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,

Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don’t you take it awful hard

’Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines

Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I’ve got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame

I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

I rise

I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise.