You choose
After being out of school sick for three days a few weeks ago, Grant was really struggling to get up and go back to school and he laid in the middle of the floor screaming and crying. I gave him a few options. Either option resulted in going to school. I said “you can choose to go to school with a positive start or you can go to school with a bad start. Those are your two options, and right now you are choosing a bad start. I know it's hard to go back after a long break. I know it's not easy. I know you're not looking forward to it, but this is not an option and you can choose to change your attitude about it.” He was really struggling with it. Can’t you relate? Having anxiety about moving back into the norm after time off? I know I can relate, on a weekly basis! Some days, I would raise my voice and rush him out the door kicking and screaming, panicked that we would be late. This would be choosing to start my day out negatively as well. So on this day, I took a minute to come from a place of understanding. I sat down with him, gave him a big hug and told him that I knew that it was hard and he began to calm down. Mom win moment, right?? Then I proceeded to accidentally knock over my hot tea, spilling it on his arm, resulting in even more tears. FYI - It wasn’t super hot and I had just added ice to it, but still - come on!!! 🤦🏽♀️😭😬 You win some, you lose some! :)
As I was walking out the door the other day, Matt asked about what was on my calendar today. When I answered that I was headed for a massage, he replied “well aren't you just living a great life.” Through what was meant to be a sarcastic comment - he is really great at those ;), I could sense a hint of envy. I thought to myself, dang right I'm living a great life and you have the choice to live a great life too.
Today, as I posted about walking to yoga and a coffee shop at the beach today, my friend Emily commented and said “living your best life”. I’m starting to sense a theme here and it makes me smile. I’m noticing that I choose things that bring me joy and I hope that I am inspiring others to do the same.
As I am writing this, I am sitting on my balcony in Florida looking out over the beach and just soaking up the blessings around me. It never fails that the ocean makes me feel so close to God. It’s endless beauty is always a reminder of God’s capabilities and presence. It’s easy in a place like this to feel joy radiating. But, this isn’t always the case. I’ve always wanted to have this feeling of peace wherever I am, but it’s definitely not as easy when the view is your small, messy, loud house.
Anyways - I tell you all of this because every single day you can wake up and choose positivity or negativity. You can't choose your circumstances. You can't choose when the baby decides to sleep or not. You can't choose when you get a flat tire. You can’t choose when your wild child will refuse to go to school. What you can choose is your reaction and response to your circumstances. I know people who have experienced really hard, sad, sorrowful circumstances. And yet despite the struggles, despite the grief, despite the pure despair, they are still choosing to show up and find glimmers of joy in their days.
Don’t compare, don’t judge, just live your life in a way that is God honoring and brings you JOY. Schedule in the massage, do the yoga, take the walk, the rest, the break, even if it’s just 5 minutes each day in this season.
You can create and choose POSITIVITY!
