I was trying to come up with a suitable topic for this, the first post in years. What do you say to a crowd of people who no longer know your innermost thoughts (or, more likely, those who do. Hi Mom!)? I toyed with politics (dangerous), what I'm doing with life (meh) or even an obligatory New Year goals post (but really, who cares?). Then I realized, there's only one thing that matters.
Life is good.
2016 was a rough year. And by that, I don't mean the celebrities who died or the natural disasters or anything you could find in the newspaper. I mean I attended 3 funerals of people I loved. My professional life was difficult. I had multiple issues with my computer and phone and car. I felt so incredibly lonely I seriously wondered if I would ever be happy in this place I lived.
But for every disadvantage, every trial, every time I felt like giving up, there was always something good. I went to places I've never been with people I love. I kicked some bad habits (and acquired a few more, but progress is progress). I made friends, the kind of friends you're old enough to realize that you will keep for life.
On the religious side, I'm recognizing how Heavenly Father communicates with me. My favorite conversation with Him happened earlier this year, and it went like this:
Me: Heavenly Father, this was a rough month. Things 1 2 and 3 happened, and I'm nearly at the end of my rope. Every aspect of my life is blowing up. Father, I just need something. Anything.
Him: Well, I gave you Pokemon Go, didn't I?
Fair point.
There will always be good things. You can always try to be better. It's not like life pauses and wherever you are, that's how it'll always be. We have the ability to change and to define good in what we see. We can rise above, and become more than the things that happen to us. I define my reactions, and so I define my life. And that is why my life is beautiful.
But for every disadvantage, every trial, every time I felt like giving up, there was always something good. I went to places I've never been with people I love. I kicked some bad habits (and acquired a few more, but progress is progress). I made friends, the kind of friends you're old enough to realize that you will keep for life.
On the religious side, I'm recognizing how Heavenly Father communicates with me. My favorite conversation with Him happened earlier this year, and it went like this:
Me: Heavenly Father, this was a rough month. Things 1 2 and 3 happened, and I'm nearly at the end of my rope. Every aspect of my life is blowing up. Father, I just need something. Anything.
Him: Well, I gave you Pokemon Go, didn't I?
Fair point.
There will always be good things. You can always try to be better. It's not like life pauses and wherever you are, that's how it'll always be. We have the ability to change and to define good in what we see. We can rise above, and become more than the things that happen to us. I define my reactions, and so I define my life. And that is why my life is beautiful.
