My tooth just broke. You know the saying, “When it rains, it pours?” Well I’m here to say, that’s crap!
My family
I think when it rains, you grow. Therefore, I will grow, which it exciting. Not that my tooth broke, but that I get the chance to grow.
I’ve hit quite a few hurdles in my quest for intentional living and entrepreneurship, and each time a hardship comes, immediate feelings of discouragement come knocking at my door. Everyday I find myself at a crossroad. Honestly, all of us do. We can either open the door to the discouragement that constantly knocks or we can lock the door, pull the shades, and run the other way!
We can face the hardship and use it. We can allow it to catapult us into growth, activity and change.
Hey, the fact is the challenges will come. Who do you know that hasn’t had a challenge or isn’t facing one right now? NO ONE! None of us go through life unchallenged. It is simply how we choose to face the challenge at hand. Whether we focus on the problem or the solution.
You know the person who always seems to be happily floating through life? The one with all the friends and whom everything always seems to fall into place for? It isn’t by accident, you know. We attract certain people and events to us by how we act, think, and what we choose to focus on and therefore say.
If I choose to constantly complain and whine about each day’s, week’s, and year’s challenges, who do you think would want to be around me. Would you?
I have chosen and will continue to choose to focus on what is going right instead of what is going wrong. It has taken practice to change and I will continue to sharpen my skills in this area.
Therefore I will take this opportunity to practice a little more. 🙂
Today –
- I walked with my son in the morning sunshine.
- I felt loved and supported by my husband.
- I was refreshed by the cool breeze.
- I was able to listen to sections of a podcast and a book.
- I visited with my sister and brother in-law.
- I received a letter of encouragement from a dear friend.
- I went to Lancaster County, PA to do my weekly grocery shopping.
- I got 8 quarts of freshly picked strawberries to make pie!
- I saw the most enchanting green eyes on a little amish girl with soft, red hair and freckles.
- I found encouragement from friends here through the 30 Day Challenge.
- I felt joy and pride fill my heart as I stood in the cooler section of the grocery store watching an elderly lady fuss and coo over Jude and his bright blue eyes.
- I ate a boatload of juicy, ripe, perfectly sweet strawberries.
- And tonight… I will fall asleep safe, warm, and loved in a beautiful house surrounded by my family.
Therefore I am richly and deeply blessed and that is what I choose to focus on.
Question: What challenges are you presently facing? What could you focus on to bring strength and courage to your heart?
Sorry to hear about the tooth Claudia. But you have an excellent outlook on the situation. Keep your chin up!
Thanks Joe – I will! 😉
Love your attitude, Claudia! There’s nothing like counting your blessings to take the doldrums away! And I know you WILL grow from this “rain”!
Btw, how did you break your tooth? Yikes!
I also loved your post about how Michael came in and rescued you and Jude from that overwhelming, teary state you both were in! What a wise and tender man! Glad you are finding the rainbows amidst the clouds. It’s an inspiration for me to do the same!!
May you find many more rainbow colored blessings in your day today!!
ahhh, that is the million dollar question… I don’t know, maybe a raspberry seed?? It is a tooth that was in process of getting a crown and when I got pregnant the process was put on hold…
haha yes Annette, he came right to my rescue and is extremely helpful and gentle in steering me in a new direction. Those times can be a bit volatile and he navigates them with ease 😉
Haha, you’re being too kind. 😉
no, you do babe… really!
Thanks Claudia, I needed that. I tend to focus on the negative when there are so many positive things in my life to be thankful for.
Brent,
Hey, glad to help!
What are you thankful for today?
Many things, but the first thing that comes to mind is my wife had another good Dr. appointment yesterday (7 months pregnant and history of problems in the past).
That my friend is wonderful news!!! Congratulations to you both and prayers for the rest of the pregnancy! Wow.
Claudia, this is beautiful! So well written, and it helps us realize that every day is filled with magic 😉
ooooh Matt, I really love that thought! Have you read “A million miles in a thousand years” ? Bob talks about living life with whimsy. I like that thought and magic encompasses the same idea…
Thanks for joining with us btw ;)!
I haven’t heard of that book ~ thanks 🙂 I will take a look. Sure thing Claudia! I really like the message and the work you guys are putting out. Keep rocking!
Matt,
you would love that book! It’s by Donald Miller – about writing a better story with your life… which it seems you are 😉
Awesome Claudia! Thanks again!
Way to look on the positive side, Claudia. Sorry to hear about the tooth. Can the dentist fix it?
It’s interesting to see how in the workplace, the negative folks always seem to find each other and talk about how bad everything is. They seem to have all the answers for why others aren’t perfoming like they should be. So, this is a breath of fresh air. I’m thankful to have positive people, like you guys, in my life!
Chris,
You are so kind to ask! He actually was able to fix it quite easily…. I automatically assumed the worst and pictured hundreds of dollars going to get it fixed. But, no, it was quick and painless!
Writing that post helped me immensely to let go and refocus.
Ahhh yes, I can relate to what you said about your work… Do you have any chance to get away and refocus during your days?
Thanks Chris!! The feeling is mutual, trust me!
Perfect! I’m glad he was able to fix it in no time, without pain both physcially and in terms of the bank account.
Yes, thankfully I’m able to get away both by myself to breathe and to interact with other positive people. I only want those positve influencers in my life, but like all of us, sometimes we’re stuck in positions around people who are “glass is completely empty” types.
hmmmm, yes…
and that is why you are working on ‘plan B’ right? 🙂
“When it rains, it grows”…I sense a keynote presentation in that phrase!
hahaha, oh boy! That’s a KEY, keynote for sure… to imitate Jim Rohn.
Do you laugh a lot Kent? I picture you as laughing a lot… maybe because I see your smiling face right here in the Gravitar 🙂
I do smile and laugh a lot. I love life 🙂
I can tell 😉
Well written Claudia and food for thought! When I’m at a place of discouragement I really work at surrounding myself with people that I know will listen, but will help me to rise above whatever I’m feeling. Encouragement when you are feeling discouraged goes a long way.
Thanks Cindy!
It really does go a long way – healing in fact!
How was your visit with your mom btw??
Claudia – It was a wonderful time together. I smile even as I’m writing this thinking about my visit. I actually wrote a blog about it with a picture I had taken of the two of us.
Ann,
Thanks friend!
Wow, that is so interesting… and I totally believe it! I made myself literally physically sick for years with regret, worry and anxiety. NO MORE!
In the past I have gotten so worked up when anything happens to my teeth! After writing that post and refocusing – I let it go, and was able to be at peace.
And today my apt went wonderfully and I had a wonderful day.
Being thankful is a truly wonderful thing 🙂
Claudia, I’ve come to the conclusion that 99.999% of all my problems and challenges are internal. I have perceived them that way. And I can still get those down days, but it’s always when I am focused inward. It’s then all I have to do is look UPward and OUTward – and voila! – the clouds lift, the day is changed. Thanks for this post -as always, very encouraging.
Michael… 99.999% huh???
Yea, for me probably 99.998 1/2% 😉
I know, you are right on there when you said upward and outward! After writing this I was reminded again just how powerful being grateful is… I fell asleep calm and not anxious at all and that would not have been normal in the past had something like that just happened to me.
Hey, you are welcome!
Awesome perspective, and way to see all the growth and blessings that are evident in your day. I can tell you there is not much that is more energizing that witnessing the glow and excitement coming from an individual who is obviously “high on life”…
I was “running” down the road the other day, and passed one of my neighbors who had this high spark gardenia but very sincere and authentic expression. He was actually running in the opposite direction, and every now and then we pass each other on some road…. As we were passing, you could tell we were both lit with joy and he shouts in his strong English accent, “Gorgeous Mornin’ it’nit Mate!”
That’s the stuff that makes the day come alive…
We’re alive, and yes we love rain too 🙂
Keep loving life, Claudia— You’re awesome, and you have a beautiful family…
hahaa I love that Rob! It is the stuff that makes you come alive!!
Thanks Rob, you sure know how to give someone a great big pat on the back!! Ahhhh 😉