Darrius Garrett

Can we start celebrating the courage it takes to start over?
We celebrate people when they graduate, get promoted, get married, buy something, win something, or accomplish something.
But what about the victories nobody sees?
Getting out of bed during a difficult mental-health season.
Finally asking for help.
Going to therapy.
Walking away from addiction.
Leaving an unhealthy situation.
Facing trauma.
Or simply realizing that the person you've been isn't the person you want to remain.
September is National Recovery Month, and here's something I hope somebody remembers:
There is no shame in rebuilding your life.
Starting over doesn't automatically mean you failed.
Sometimes it means you finally decided you deserve something different.
Anything worth saving is worth rebuilding.
What has starting over taught you?
— Darrius Garrett
Author | Actor | Mental Health Advocate | Original Freedom Writer.

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How much power have you given other people over your happiness?
Someone can disrespect us for 30 seconds, and sometimes we spend the next six hours angry about it.
Meanwhile, they've moved on.
So who's really suffering?
I've learned that protecting my peace doesn't mean pretending something didn't hurt me. It means refusing to let what somebody else did become the controlling narrative of my entire day.
Stop replaying the offense and start replaying the blessings.
People don't control your peace. Circumstances don't determine your joy. And somebody else's actions don't get to dictate your attitude.
Don't give another person the remote control to your emotions.
What's something you've learned to stop allowing to steal your joy?
— Darrius Garrett, Original Freedom Writer