Have you ever absently thought to yourself “Ugh, that’s the worst thing ever” over something fairly trivial?
For instance, yesterday I was snacking on a mandarin orange. I laboriously pulled off the stubborn peel and remarked inwardly that it was a pain. Then after all that work, I bit into the first piece and crunched down on a seed. End of the world. I hate seeds in mandarin oranges. I muttered darkly under my breath and began to fish the pesky seeds out. I even said, with exasperation, “Seeds in mandarins are the worst thing ever.” It only took me about two minutes of eating delicious, fragrant sections of mandarin to realize what a monumentally stupid thing I’d just said.
In some parts of the world, I imagine that people would fight over even the seeds of the mandarin. They’d probably eat the peel as well. I see those pictures of starving children and I know the worst things in my life wouldn’t even register on the scale of what they deal with every day. I have disappointments in my life; frustration, pain, sadness, concerns, etc. But I have an overabundance of blessings in my life as well.
I have never missed a meal because there was no food available. If I get hungry, I can walk across the street to the fancy grocery store and buy almost any food I can imagine. If I’m too lazy to walk, there is plenty of food to sustain me in my pantry and fridge. If I got sick in any way, there are two Urgent Care/Clinic’s just across the street. If I had an emergency, I could get to a hospital in about 5 minutes. I live in a beautiful apartment, with hot water readily available, a washer/dryer to clean my clothes, and a closet overfull of garments to choose from. I have a sturdy lock on my door and security that drives around the complex at night. I never have to fear for my safety. I have my own car to transport myself places. I have a very secure job that enables me to provide for myself. I have a loving family that checks in with me on a very regular basis. I have wonderful friends that love and support me. I have a church family that welcomes and includes me. I have a God who never, ever leaves me.
I have everything.
Our thoughts are powerful things. They have the ability to control our emotions and outlook on life. All too often, I allow my thoughts to lead me to a place of pettiness and discontent. I allow greed, jealousy, and apathy to take over.
I don’t want to be that person, and I believe we can find the strength to control our thoughts. I believe in a God who can help me to focus on the blessings in my life.
So during the holidays this year, I’m going to challenge myself to focus on the good and let it outweigh any negative. If we find ourselves focusing on the gift we didn’t get, the family crisis we’re in the middle of, the exhaustion of all the events, the shrinking bank account, the loneliness and the frustrations, how will we have time to focus on all the beauty and joy in life?
Dacia...I utterly adore this post. These thoughts go through my head regularly and yet I still find myself yelling at the cars around me on the freeway to go faster or get out of my way. I roll my eyes and heave deep sighs when "fast food" takes longer than two minutes to be packaged and handed to me. I bemoan the fact that I can only afford to buy TWO sweaters and not the third one I really want, too. I find myself tempted to throw my mouse across the room when the internet takes longer than five seconds to load a page.
ReplyDeleteSpoiled much?
I have been trying really hard over the last several months to focus on the blessings in my life - exactly what you're talking about here - and I've found it makes me a much happier, more positive person. In fact, I've recently found myself the brunt of someone's anger and resentment because I posted something positive on their very whiny, "woe is me" Facebook post. That is NEVER something I saw happening when I was a cynical teenager. Lol!
I know I'm practically writing another blog here in the comments, so forgive me. I just wanted to say that I admire your efforts to focus on the positive and wish you luck in turning 2012 into the Year of the Optimist.
Merry Christmas, my lovely friend!
Well stated, and a timely reminder for me at this particular time in my life. We are so blessed and so blind most of the time to those blessings. Have a blessing filled holiday. I love reading your blogs. Aunt Deb
ReplyDeletePerhaps our attitudes and perspectives at times are the worst thing ever. Thank you for the reminder, Darling. I love you, I'm proud to call you my friend, and I'm grateful for your wisdom. :)
ReplyDeleteAmen. Making brash, rash, broad statements about anything and everything can be funny at first, and eventually become a way of life, as I have unfortunately learned the hard way. The end result is a negative lifestyle that is hard to undo. Thank you for pointing out the importance of staying positive and not getting caught up in an overly negative culture that rants about the smallest and silliest of inconveniences.
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