Tag: mental health

It’s Quote Day! Sports Edition? Sure.

~ Henry Butterfly ~ Leave a comment

Hi, everybody!

I’m pretty tired and don’t feel too much like writing. However, reading isn’t half bad right now. I’m in a “sports” mood, so that’s the theme we’ll keep today.

I’ve learned that something constructive comes from every defeat.

Tom Landry

Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play

Mike Singletary

Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you.

Arnold Palmer

Your biggest opponent isn’t the other guy. It’s human nature.

Bobby Knight

I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’

Muhammad Ali

I wish you well. Try not to beat the shit out of yourself.

Me

Hitting My Stride

~ Henry Butterfly ~ Leave a comment

Hi, everyone!

THREE meetings booked this week. Let me put that into perspective: I booked one meeting over my first month.

It feels good. My boss, the VP of Sales, etc., are starting to throw some love at me. I needed that. I felt I wasn’t performing but as almost anything with life: it takes time.

I’m also doing really well in terms of boxing. I sparred yesterday and barely got touched. Landed quite a few clean jabs against some tough sparring partners. My coach actually said I did well, and he never, ever says that (even if he wants to). So that feels great.

This weekend I get to hang out with some friends I haven’t seen in a while and continue to train in the sport I love.

Things are really coming together. They really are. My finances are looking up, too (that could easily change, let’s not jinx it).

Have you taken a step back today to appreciate yourself? Appreciate the work you’ve put in to get even this far in life? You should. You’re impressive. You’re talented. You fuckin’ got this.

I wish you well. Try not to beat the shit out of yourself.

Helping People Selflessly

~ Henry Butterfly ~ 2 Comments

Hi, everybody.

I hope you’re doing well today. I am, even though I happened to fall asleep on the couch last night (usually that messes up my back REAL BAD).

Today’s another good day. Feels like it’s more routine now to wake up in a good mood rather than a bad mood. What do I attribute that to? Well, you lot know I attribute a lot of my mental health successes to this blog, my support system, and remaining aware. However, helping people provides an extra boost to my overall mental health. Why? Well, I finally have the mental capacity to help others without ME in mind. It’s finally getting to the point where it’s selfless help rather than “pat me on the back for helping” help. There’s a difference.

So what’s allowed me to help more freely without keeping myself in the picture? I don’t quite know. That’s what I’m trying to figure out. I think it’s just becoming more and more natural the more I stay aware and the more I practice.

Everyone tells us we can do anything we put our minds to. I don’t believe that one bit, but I like the general sentiment of the statement. And we can do PLENTY that we put our minds to, just not all. Helping others selflessly is one thing I put my mind to and it’s starting to finally come together. Do I still feel good when I help people? Yes, but I’m trying to eliminate the self from helping others, so that needs to change.

I don’t know if I confused you here. I hope I didn’t. If you have questions, please feel free to comment below. I love chatting with you lot!

I wish you well. Try not to beat the shit out of yourself.

Almost Forgot About You

~ Henry Butterfly ~ Leave a comment

Hi, everybody.

Yes, I’m talking about you. It’s almost 2 PM and I let blogging slip my mind till now! OH MY.

There’s good reason. Today has easily been my most successful day at my new job. Two meetings, an opportunity created of over $50k, and plenty of solid conversations. Oh, and I got a new boss! Real cool guy.

To be honest, lot, I really don’t have much to say today. I just wanted to check in, let you know I’m still here, still breathing, and trying to thrive. I actually need to step away from screens really, really bad. Make sure you’re checking in with yourself often. I needed to and it ended up boosting me to my first real successful day at this job.

I wish you well. Try not to beat the shit out of yourself.

A (False?) Sense of Peace

~ Henry Butterfly ~ Leave a comment

Hi, everybody!

Welp, the girlfriend went to another country for a month so it’s just you and me for a bit! I’m excited, are you?

I woke up this morning feeling serene. I did my normal routine but the girlfriend did stop by for a quick dog walk prior to her departure. I will say I’m not doing the best at work, but I hope with less distractions (new relationships tend to create a natural distraction) I can pick up the pace a bit. Also, I was just told I have a new boss starting… today? Tomorrow? One of the two. Hopefully he’s a good guy. OH! I’ve always had some serious thoughts about getting out of sales. Maybe moving into marketing. Who knows.

But back to the peace thing. This is how I know the blog’s title makes sense. One morning I wake up feeling like dog shit, the next morning I feel like I can preach to the world about awareness and loving yourself. I’m striving to be somewhere in between, because let’s be honest… no one really wants someone to constantly say “love yourself” or “I’m dog shit”. There’s got to be a balance.

And today I woke up with that balance. I knew I had a long work day ahead of me paired with my second job. I know I have an extremely early and important meeting tomorrow morning that I need to prep for. But I’m doing OK. I’m not stressing. As Richard Miller says in one of his meditations, “I am aware and I am at ease”. I feel that today. I really do.

Peaceful. Quiet. Calm. That’s my day today. And I’m excited for it. What’s your day look like?

I wish you well. Try not to beat the shit out of yourself.

A Month Change

~ Henry Butterfly ~ 2 Comments

Hi, everybody.

I’m slightly worried. Tomorrow my girlfriend leaves for Egypt for a month. No, I’m not worried about what she’ll be doing in Egypt, but a lot of my time is spent with her. Whether it’s hanging out, grabbing dinner, or boxing, we spend A LOT of time together. So that will all change–and for a month at that–scary.

I plan to spend plenty of time on myself. Also, my wallet will thank her for leaving for a month (we eat out a decent amount, it’s one of my favorite things to do and hers as well). But again, I am worried. I’m a man that enjoys structure, routine, sometimes the same ol’ same ol’.

But I have my support system with me as always. Also, she’s just a WhatsApp message away. Who will be my new training partner for the next month? No clue. I need to figure that out quick.

I think I’ll spend a good amount of the next month writing to you lot, too. I hope you don’t mind. I consider those who read my blog some of the people that know me the best. You know the real me. The vulnerable me. And someone needs to know that side of me.

Let’s push through this together. With the help from you lot, I can do so much more than without you lot. When I write, I feel better. When I write to you, I feel a whole lot better.

I’m going to spend the rest of the day enjoying time with my girlfriend before she leaves. I hope she has a tremendous time, but I will miss her.

I wish you well. Try not to beat the shit out of yourself.

Pop’s Day

~ Henry Butterfly ~ Leave a comment

Hi, everybody.

Happy Pop’s Day to all you wonderful fathers out there. You are appreciated, very appreciated.

Right now I’m in my parent’s living room. Typing here on my phone. I don’t have much to say—I’m just grateful. I’m grateful to have such a wonderful family and a Pops that’s always supported me.

My Pops never told me who to be. He let me be me, even if I was shitting the bed there for a bit. My Pops never tried to influence how I thought. He knew I understood right v. wrong, it just took me a bit to put that knowledge into action.

I feel like my Pops has always had trust in me. And that means the world to me. He’s the best damn man on this planet, he really is. I’m grateful to have him. I am grateful to spend part of this day with him.

I hope you get a chance to hug or high-five your Pops today. If you don’t have a father, please forgive me. To all those celebrating, enjoy your day. Show gratitude.

I wish you well. Try not to beat the shit out of yourself.

Good Ol’ Karen

~ Henry Butterfly ~ Leave a comment

Hi, everybody.

Today I ran into a Karen. It’s been a while since I’ve had that experience and it definitely didn’t disappoint.

I talk about my dogs often here, and yes they are a little out of control but they never have ill intent. Also, they’re cute as shit. Friendly. Sometimes understand boundaries. Whatever, they’re good dogs.

So today I took my girlfriend to a lake. A public lake. No one owns any part of the beach (I say that lightly because… well, it’s a beach in the midwest). Within one minute, ONE MINUTE, of being there with my dogs off the leash, a Karen tells me “We really don’t want your dogs around us.” + much more.

First things first: they weren’t around her. Secondly, why? There were four other dogs there AT LEAST, roaming around or relaxing. My dogs just got there. Of course they’re going to jump in the water and scope out the area. They weren’t causing issues.

Anyway, instead of staying there in spite of this lady, I decided to leave. Relieve some stress by evacuating the situation before it exploded. I drove 45 minutes there. I wasn’t happy to be pushed out by some lady who thought she owned a public beach spot.

Oh, and for anyone thinking dogs are not allowed here OR they must be on a leash – no. And if so, no one follows that damn rule. They let the dogs roam and play with each other. Karen, on the other hand, well, let’s just leave it there. There’s no point in yelling about it anymore.

What did I do when I left? I took the girlfriend and the dogs to another lake. Played fetch. Stayed aware of my festering anger and fought it off. I don’t think I would have done that just a few months ago.

Still, screw Karen. I stand 100% behind that. Did she just not like dogs? Who doesn’t like dogs?

I wish you well. Try not to beat the shit out of yourself.

PS – After the lady and I had our brief altercation, my oldest dog took a massive shit in front of their towels and such. Karma’s a bitch, literally.

Feelin’ “Blah” Again

~ Henry Butterfly ~ Leave a comment

Hi, everybody.

Welp, this is why the site is called “The Two Sides of Me” because guess what?! I’m back in the dumps. Why? No fucking clue. Can I get out of it? What do you think I’m trying to do here?!

I know I’m in control of myself now. I can push myself through these “blah” days and fuck, that feels amazing. Each word I’m typing here is freeing me of that negative mindset, that mindset that I’m not good enough for today. Writing is so damn powerful.

But I’d love to find out why I feel this way so very often. What am I doing the night before to make me wake up in such a slump? Or is it something I’ll just have to deal with the rest of my life? I think it’s that. I think I’ll be dealing with this poo for the rest of my life… but to be honest, I’m OK with that. I know I’m strong enough to push through and if I’m not, I have a support system to back me up. I’m blessed. I’m grateful.

What about you, though? Are you taking a moment each day to check in on yourself to see how you’re really doing? Not your Instagram, not your Twitter, but your real life. How are you actually doing? If your blood pressure spikes reading that question, take a deep breath. You’re not fucked. You’re just aware now. That’s powerful.

I wish you well. Try not to beat the shit out of yourself.

Doggos

~ Henry Butterfly ~ 2 Comments

Hi, everybody.

This week for me has been about gratitude. It’s very important to check yourself every once in a while and appreciate what you do have in your life. And what’s something I’m extremely appreciative of? My doggos.

This pandemic hasn’t been fun as we all know. But I can tell you one thing for certain: my doggos have kept me going each and every day. If I’m down, I grab one of them and cuddle. If I’m up, I take them for a ride to the dog park.

My doggos are always there for me. (Should I stop referring to them as doggos now? I don’t know if I can, I mean, it’s in the title.) “Man’s best friend”. And for good reason. The loyalty they show is something we could all learn from. I know they’re animals, but my god they are fantastic at living in the moment. We could all learn something from doggos there, too.

But love is where they excel. And I’m grateful to have their love and loyalty. They’re my best friends and I wouldn’t change that for the world. Thank you, doggos.

Oh! Quick reminder: ADOPT, DON’T SHOP!

I wish you well. Try not to beat the shit out of yourself.