I try to be an optimistic person. This isn't always an easy thing to do. Life has it's ups and downs. There are hard times and easy ones. Through all of these I try to remind myself that no matter what happens there will always be better days and that everything happens for a reason. Even with reminding myself of these things sometimes remaining optimistic gets hard.
There have been times in my life when everything feels like it starts falling around me and I am alone. Those are the times it gets hard. When those times come around and the hard times seem like they aren't ever going to get better or I don't care what the reason is that I am going through those times there seems to be a few thoughts that come to mind. It seems that either one of two things come to mind. The one that has come to mind the most often is 1 Corinthians 10:12 "This to shall pass." This reminds me that no matter what it is, no matter what happens all things pass. All we ever have is the moments and once those moments have passed we have the memories. Whether those memories are good or bad those are what we are left with. They shape us and make us who we are and who we will be. We can chose to learn from them or we can chose to let them control us. Either way they make us who we are.
The other thought that gets me through those times that feel hopeless is the thought that it could be worse. There are many people who have worse things happening in there lives than I have ever have happened. Then I remember all the people I know who have had so many problems with illness, family problems, looking for work, and so many other problems. Yet those people are the ones who seem to stay strong and find reasons to still find happiness. When I think of those people and all they have over come I remember that my problems are small. Thinking of the people who have overcome all their problems and still are happy reminds me of how I should be thinking of them instead. Reminds me how they need someone more than I do.
People tell me we all have feelings for a reason and those feelings are important. My friends tell me that I should take care of myself and my needs. The thing is I take care of myself, but I am better at taking care of others. I would rather take care of others. I keep getting told who will take care of me if I don't take care of myself. My question is this "Why can't we all take care of each other?" Why is it we always think who will take care of us if we don't do it ourselves? Don't we all need someone sometimes? Yes, we all have to take care of ourselves to a point. We all have to make sure we do our part to help ourselves, but we all have those times we need someone to remind us of the strength within. We all have those days that we need to be reminded that the clouds will pass and the sun will shine. We all have times we need a shoulder to cry on and a hug from a friend. There will be times we need an ear to hear us and understanding words to comfort us. If we don't think about those times, if we don't remember those times that we need it and be there for others then how can we expect someone to be there when we need it.
I remain optimistic, happy, and caring for those people who need me to be. I remain that way for myself. If I can't be there for those who need me (those who really need me) then why was I brought into this world. If I am not here to bring a ray of sunshine to those who need it. To be a shoulder for those who need a shoulder. An ear for those who need someone to hear them. The voice of understanding and optimisim. Then tell me why I am here. You see I may not be a genius. I may not be the most talented person or the most beautiful, but I have something that I believe is more valuable then any of those things. My gift that I was given isn't marketable. My gift can't make me a millionaire, but I wouldn't trade it for any other gift. The gift I was given was Love and a very big heart. It is this love and a heart big enough to love all the people I have met no matter what has happened or who they are that has allowed me to remain optimistic, happy, and caring. It is this gift that has allowed me to find the good in every person I have met and to have found that something in every moment good or bad worth having gone through. Every person that has come through my life has taught me a lesson. Whether I realize it in the moment or I realize it later when something comes up they all taught me something. Every moment in my life especially the hard ones has taught me something.
If you asked me where I learned to find the good in all people and all things I would tell you I learned it from many places. Part of it I believe was passed on genetically from my Mom's Mom. She was just that kind of person and I feel I inherited part of it from her. Another part was taught to me at a very young age by my Mom and her Mother. They both taught me that there is good in everything and that every person has good in them. Then as I got older I had friends, strangers, and those who chose their own paths that reminded me there is always good. Even the people who tried to convince me there were times not to be optimistic only accentuated the need to find that good in the situation more for me. You see I would see them and how their outlook had affected them which would make me sad. It was the outcome of their outlook that reminded me even more why I needed to remain optimistic and why I needed to find the good. If you have ever seen someone who looks at the glass as half full all the time or even most of the time you will see someone who misses the beauty in the moment. You will see someone who doesn't find the happiness in that moment. I am not saying not to express your sadness or your pain. I am not saying don't prepare for the worst. What I am saying is this. . . . . . . . Try not to hold on to or embrace those moments. Try to see past the sadness and pain. See what is beyond it. Remember that even if the worst happens that it will pass eventually especially if you prepare for it. Remember the good times when things go bad. If you loved someone and the time comes where you have to part try not to dwell on why you had to leave. Try to remember why you loved them. Remember why it won't work, but remember there was a time you did love them and why you did.
Life is full of lessons. It is full of ups and downs. There will be lonely times and times full of loved ones. Your world will fall around you and it will rebuild as well. Only you can decide how you will remember it. What path you will chose and how you will rebuild your life when it falls apart. Only you can decide to be there when someone needs you or to chose not to be there. You can decide to let the pain and sadness of the past rule you or to let it be a guide to help you find understanding and happiness. We all can make the decision to find our path. That path may not lead us where I hoped or thought it would, but we can chose to make of our detours what we will. How will you decide to look at your detours? As a nuisance or as scenic route?
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