Hey Friends –
Y’all know I try and have this blog be a source of encouragement, joy and hope.
But today I’m sorta in a funk.
Is it ok if I’m real?
Rocky ate Sarah’s birthday cake
It’s been one too many days of intense cold + John traveling + my dog who eats anything and everything + exhausting snow days with three kids six kids (they all had a friend spend the night) + hard conversations with hurt feelings + holiday weight gain + deadlines + having to cook dinner again = crabby, irritable mom.
We all know if Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.
And I don’t want to live like that….for me or my family.
Rocky’s Paths 2014
As I was letting my obnoxious dog outside, I was struck by the paths he created in my backyard.
It reminded me of the powerful words shared many years ago when I found myself in a pit of despair when my fiancé David was killed.
My sweet friend Eileen said, “Cindy dear, you have a choice. You can allow David’s death to make you better or bitter.”
I determined regardless of my circumstances I would choose better.
The same is true today. Regardless of my frustrating circumstances, I still have a choice. I will choose better.
Here are some of the choices I’ve made today towards living better, and not bitter.
- I am choosing to view the holiday weight gain as a “setback that’s an opportunity for a comeback.” I will speak words of kindness to myself, rather than being a shaming bully. If I wouldn’t talk that way to a girlfriend, I won’t talk that way to myself either. I will not fat talk.
- I am choosing to face conflict rather than stuff it. I sent a honest email to a woman who shared hurtful words with me. Rather than numbing the pain, I am choosing to talk about it with truth and grace.
- I am choosing to take care of myself emotionally. I called a girlfriend who is wise and funny and asked her if I could tell her how I was doing, really. After sharing my frustrations, I received her words of love and encouragement.
- I am choosing to take care of myself physically. I am making food choices to nourish and strengthen my body, and getting the physical exercise I need.
- I am choosing to go to Starbucks and use the gift card I was given because, duh, I’m not perfect, and a latte just sounds good! 🙂
I love this quote from Brene Brown:
Photo: www.kellyjdahl.com
The same is true for you, my friend.
You have a choice.
You can allow the circumstances of your day to make YOU better or bitter.
You can choose to show up and be real and honest — or you can sit on the sidelines living numbed out, frustrated, joyless lives.
But the good news: Regardless of our circumstances, we always have a choice.
Let’s choose Truth. Hope. Joy. Speaking kindly and gracefully (even especially to ourselves). Let’s choose to allow whatever circumstances we are going through to make us better and not bitter.
How are you doing today, friend? Really? How can I pray for you?
Remember — please know that you matter, and know that you are loved. (If you’ve forgotten, review here).
I’m so grateful you chose to stop by *She Sparkles*. I thank God for you!
Sweet blessings,
Love that visual reminder that God gave you in the seemingly mundane task of letting the dog out 🙂 We were talking this morning at Coffee Break about how God uses what we think are ordinary, everyday “coincidences” in our lives and how we often don’t even recognize or remember how much God is working behind the scenes for our good.
Cindy,
Thank you for your “realness”. I really needed to hear this because I was becoming bitter about a boy that just lived 3 + years with us and he is now making choices that are not the type of choices he was making when he left to go to basic and AIT. For some reason he has chose to quit communicating with us and we were his only family before he went. We even sent our staff (our houseparent & niece) all the way out to South Carolina for his graduation from basics. I should be used to this after 21 years of working with these boys but it hurts. I AM going to choose BETTER instead of BITTER! I’m going to try my hardest to make an even bigger difference in the boys God has placed here now (I will focus on them instead of this boy who is no longer in our program and give that boy up to the Lord ).
1 Corinthians 15:58 “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Thank you for your encouragement. You are a BEAUTIFUL CHILD of the KING both inside and out! I love reading your blog!
Thank you for such a needed post! I’ve gained a little weight over Christmas, after losing 140 through the previous year. I’m recovering from a serious surgery, have been shut in/sick for more than 4 weeks. In addition, my best friend has been ‘absent’ since before Christmas, and through my surgery and recovery. My choice has been to be truly content spending time alone with my dogs in a warm house, and grateful for the opportunity to be a stay-at-home grandma. This morning, I was slipping into a pity party, but had hubby meet me for lunch. I had coffee, and GREAT conversation with my love. God is amazing, and His timing is impeccable.
Loved this. I can so relate. Although the sunshine did help today.
Oh, great post and I needed this tonight. Hubby and I left yesterday morning headed to Florida for a nice getaway. We’ve encountered icy roads, closed roads and every thing else imaginable. I’m trying to keep a good attitude but it is so hard sometimes. Thanks for the reminder and blessings to you!
This is why I love ya, Cindy! Amen to all of it. Choosing to put my God googles on even in a moment I don’t like. He is present and He loves me.
Make mine a caramel macchiato, please?
I love your authenticity. I love that you’re able to share it.
Keep on, sweet one. You are awesome and you greatly help others!
I can relate to it all. It IS a daily decision, and sometimes a huge course correction, to make my imperfect day a better day. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Oh Cindy…thanks so much for this post! I think we all feel the same way at some point…and we all can benefit from a little pep talk! 🙂
This season was hard for me. I lost my best friend of 34 years on Christmas Day! I have been missing her so much this past month…and have been finding comfort in warm food in this cold weather! Yikes, I too need to move beyond the frustration and pain, and get back to my healthy routine! Of course I KNOW that the Lord is with me…and He has been getting me through each day…and I am so thankful. I know He never leaves me nor forsakes me…and I am so thankful for that!
I lost 36 pounds from June to the present time…but totter up and down a pound or two…especially since Christmas. I have felt so much better since losing the weight…and still have another 20 or 30 to lose…so I do need to continue on my healthy eating plan. It is just hard when you are grieving. BUT you have encouraged me here…and given me this good pep talk! So…I say Onward Christian Soldiers!!! 🙂
Love, Linda