Lately I have been throwing a nice, well organized pity party for myself. I do this every once and a while and I'm sure you'll find other posts about it if you go digging (probably don't have to dig very hard!) Last night I was fishing around on the internet about the physical effects of stress on a person's body. I had every intention this morning to post about how stressed I was....but I'm not going to. This morning my daily perspective came from the quote above.....I have been whining about losing the life that I planned and all the while missing the life I have waiting for me.
I'm not the only Mom whose needs to work, not the only woman who doesn't get pregnant the second she wants to, not the only family in America who struggles with money, and certainly not the only runner who gets into a funk from time to time. Today I am choosing a different perspective....and I know it will be a daily choice....a choice not to wallow in the trials but to rejoice in the blessings....a choice to celebrate the milestones reached instead of the ones missed. I am blessed.
When I lived in Spain in college I had collected quotes in Spanish that could remind me to keep a good perspective. It was amazing to live in such a beautiful city and I was blessed by the sacrifices my parents made to send me there. This morning I was going through some quotes from that time and came by this one:
"Nevertheless, God faithfully continues to apply the pressure that transforms me. While I may get all bent out of shape by that pressure, being bent out of my shape means being bent into His shape. And in all my heart I can say Amen...so be it to that."
Oh and at the end of the day:
What perspective will you choose today?
Your post is awesome! I tend to lean towards the "stressful pity party" theme myself, though try to steer away.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how we can talk ourselves as easily into the pity party or the positive - it just takes a focus to pick which one we want to lather ourselves in!
Your "not the only woman who doesn't get pregnant the second she wants" stopped me in my tracks, since I forget sometimes that there are others like me out there.
I wish you a happy day and thank you for this perspective reminder :)
this is a great post! that first quote seems so hard to really admit to ourselves but so true and humbling and probably worth it in the end! i am about to head out on my first LR post marathon and have been having MAJOR anxiety. plus I am running with a speedy mcspeedster and i hate holding people back. but i am trying to just remind myself to be grateful for the morning. grateful for the time with a good friend. i really suddenly just felt much more calm after reading this post. thank you!
ReplyDeletePerspective is everything!! Love the quote about God bending us. Such a good reminder. This was a great way to start my day!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. We are ALL there from time to time. I hope your feeling better at this point. Great quote. That really spoke to me. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great reminder that while it is easy to wallow in self pity we need to remember all the ways we are blessed and how much worse it could be!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post!!! I feel similar and oftentimes forget it's what I make out of any situation/every day. Great reminder!!
ReplyDeletewe use the big girl panties a lot at my house. sometimes it is easy to get caught up in our own pity parties. believe me that has been my week. thanks for reminding me not to feel so sorry for myself.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say that this is a great post. It is so hard while you are in the midst of trials, like wanting a baby so badly, to have this perspective. Being able to focus on quotes like this one is truly great!
ReplyDeletewhat a terrific post!! i absolutely love the quote at the top! i too, am very guilty of throwing pity parties for myself. things may feel overwhelming at times or not go the way i want, but they will only affect me as deeply as i allow them to! it's all about developing my mental perseverance!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post Nancy - and I'm thinking of you! I need to gain perspective lately!!
ReplyDeleteHang in there.
I am a planner and it totally stresses me out when things don't go the way I wanted them to go. But you are right! I need to appreciate the NOW instead of worrying about what can be or could have been!
ReplyDeleteHey if you need to have a little pity party, do it, dance your pity little butt off and get rid of that pity. But then come back better than ever!
I really needed to read this today! I admit, I'm a control freak and I'm sure that my fear of not being in control of my life leads me to not live the life that God has designed for me.
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