I use to subscribe to a "climbing up the rough side of the mountain" type of living. Where everyday was a press, an act of faith to hold a little longer until some magical change would appear. It seemed to make sense too especially since everybody around me pretty much shared the same view in some way. As a matter of fact, as long as everybody was "pressing" we seemed ok. But not anymore.
Acceptance of my human limitations, personal skills and abilities and the realities of life that we all are vulnerable to like falling in love and love lost, landing a great job or getting let go, a new born baby and death of loved one produced enormous change in my life.
"No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings." - 1 Corinthians 10:13 International Standard Version
That verse from the bible is one that pops up from my church days and I love it. Whenever I do experience something painful and it seems too much for me to handle I remind myself that it's not new. Maybe it's new for me but not new to the planet. What's happening to me isn't some grand discovery that requires science to develop new research methods and theories to figure out. Most of the time I can google, ask a friend or a doctor about it and it's all good. Sure I might have to apply a little elbow grease and work hard and/or differently, some critical thinking to reshape how I interpret it and patience to get through it (sometimes a tear or two and a few expletives) but that's normal. That's called LIFE, complete with change, maturity, resiliency; ya know, the basics.
Not one single human being is immune to life and its challenges or its triumphs. We all experience both. I've learned to accept that, and some how life became easier. It's easier to enjoy the moments I have because I was no longer battling against life but instead living life. My focus turned from "struggling to make it and forcing joy" to starting my day with "What are the possibilities of today? How will I grow? What will I learn? How hard will I laugh? Who can I make smile?" And happiness just sort of happened. Not because of things or people in particular but because of my perspective, interpretation and acceptance of what I could change and what I could not change. Now things and people are like icing on my happy cake! Want a slice?
"...savor the moments of pleasure that our brief life contains. It is not denial but courage that allows us to do this. That and an unwillingness to let the present moment be drained of joy by fear of the future or regret for the past." - Dr. Gordon Livingston from Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart
