Love & Respect is for everyone (children, teens & adults)

My husband and I watched the documentary (on Netflix) called Amy. (about Amy Winehouse). I will say it was obviously a very sad story, but one where I couldn't help but feel that Amy was a genius in her craft and she was all about creating - not about gaining fame or fortune. She was pressured and had so many expectations on her after she became famous and as great as that may sound to some, many who love what they do, do it not for the fame or fortune, but because it fills them and fuels them daily. Sadly as she continued her journey, bulimia, drugs and alcohol took over her life. It appeared that she was crying for help and continued to be pushed beyond her limits. 
To me, it reminds me that NO ONE knows your limits except you. It is our responsibility to teach our children and adults that it is OK and healthy to say no when we are being pushed. Growth is one thing, but being forced into something is not ok. 
I challenge you to think about a time when you recognized that you were being pushed beyond what was best for you, but you did it because you somehow thought you had to or you would be letting others down. How about a time when you thought that by encouraging or pushing someone beyond their boundaries was healthy but maybe it was too much for the person and they didn't know how to tell you the word NO?
I am not saying that we should never go beyond our limitations - growth is healthy, but it has to feel right inside. So many people put so much pressure on themselves to perform, become, show up in a certain way for external acceptance...but when it doesn't match what is going on inside, this is the beginning of something very unhealthy which could become deadly. 
We never know when a person feels lost inside, feels low self-worth, low self-love and pretends it is all good to "fit in". Together we can help. Stop putting pressure on others to BE a certain way or DO a certain thing. When people do become famous, respect that they are a human who has needs too - they are not an object to be used and abused.
Sounds like a teen issue, but this is happening to our adults too. We can make a difference by standing up for those who just want love and respect. (including giving it to ourselves and modelling this to others to as well)
Sorry, deep thoughts for a Thursday.

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