I've spent the past month visiting doctors getting ready for hip surgery, which I now have the pleasure of recovering from. And now, it's been three weeks reclining almost 24/7 looking at all the things around me that need to be done-both inside and out. It doesn't do much for one's morale.
I have two good friends who are also down and out with me at this time due to surgery, and we've been chatting via text or Facebook. We all have the same woes-months of recovery and things weighing on our minds. One of them is a principal of a high school, so she also has to hobble around while taking care of those duties. This led me to thinking about life and all its frustrations.
As a girl growing up, I had my life all mapped out. I would miraculously have golden tresses; marry a dark, handsome prince; be swept off to some far away kingdom in New Zealand and have 6 boys and 2 girls. My dad informed me unless I married a rich man, I would be the only one at my New Zealand wedding.
My favorite Disney movie has always been Sleeping Beauty (hence the blond hair). I never liked Snow White (must have been the squeaky voice) and at the time, she was the only brunette. And even though in the stories the fair maiden suffered trials and setbacks before she got to the end, I never thought about that. I just always looked at her happily ever after.
I had my fairy tale all planned. What girl doesn't? What PERSON doesn't have their life planned out? I even had parts of my plan written out on paper (ask my mom). But as I grew older and wiser, I came to see life isn't a fairy tale. Don't we all see it at some point in our lives? I mean, it can be a story that we write, full of ogres and beasts that we have to over come, but our 'happily ever afters' are what we make of them. There is no prince to sweep us up on some giant horse and ride us through the trials of life without a scratch on our faces; it just doesn't work that way (that only happens in B class movies). After the honeymoon, life moves on.
(after several days, I have now switched to the keyboard)
I was reading a small book the other day called "Your Happily Ever After" by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. In it, he states, "It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life's story will develop." He then goes on to tell us how we react to that adversity is 'a critical factor' in whether we arrive at our happy ending. I believe he is right. I have seen it so many times, people given a hard pill in life to swallow and becoming bitter and resentful. And then, turning down a road of hate and loneliness.
Even though, things in my life didn't follow the script I had made, I chose not to go down the rocky road of resentment. I rewrote my script. I try to be upbeat and positive. I'm not always that way; I do have pity-parties now and then. I'm human after all, but I try never to stay down for long. I find things that lift me up and make me happy.
Some of the things that lead me down the road to MY happily ever after are:
(after several days, I have now switched to the keyboard)
I was reading a small book the other day called "Your Happily Ever After" by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. In it, he states, "It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life's story will develop." He then goes on to tell us how we react to that adversity is 'a critical factor' in whether we arrive at our happy ending. I believe he is right. I have seen it so many times, people given a hard pill in life to swallow and becoming bitter and resentful. And then, turning down a road of hate and loneliness.
Even though, things in my life didn't follow the script I had made, I chose not to go down the rocky road of resentment. I rewrote my script. I try to be upbeat and positive. I'm not always that way; I do have pity-parties now and then. I'm human after all, but I try never to stay down for long. I find things that lift me up and make me happy.
Some of the things that lead me down the road to MY happily ever after are:
- My Family-husband, children, parents, siblings-all a part of who I am
- My Love of the Outdoors
- My Love of Gardening
- My Love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
- The Scriptures-One of my favorite scriptures is from the Old Testament in the Holy Bible: Isaiah 40:31 But they that await upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
- My Friends-from all walks of life. Without them and their views I would be lost. I love them and hope they find their happily ever afters!
- My Many Talents to help me broaden my horizons
- My Chronic Illness-yes, you heard this right. It has made me a more compassionate and caring person. I now have a deeper understanding of things both spiritual and mental I would have never had if it weren't for MS.
- My list goes on and on
I challenge you to think about what is leading you to your Happily Ever After. If you can't think of anything, is it because you are spinning your wheels and going no where? Have you already arrived at your Nirvana? Haven't you even thought about it? Or did you give up long ago thinking there is no such thing or that you don't deserve to be happy?
I'll tell you now-YOU'RE WRONG! Everyone deserves to be happy. Starting now. Live in the moment and find joy in each and every day-a flower blooming or a robin singing. Maybe the sound of rain splashing against the window pane or the sound of children playing outside. But, it is something that needs to be looked for and found each and every day.
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| Wahkeena Waterfall along Columbia River Historic Highway Oregon, USA 2007 |
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| Latourell Waterfall along Columbia River Historic Highway Oregon, USA 2007 |
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| Fresh raspberries from my garden Can't wait!! |
