“With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?”
I strongly resist a challenge or a change, but in reality, these are some of the best things for my heart. I had to deal with Sailor's case of pinworms recently, on top of home renovations that are taking over my space (both physical and mental), and then there were ants in the apartment. In TJ's absence, I had to stand on a chair, spray ant killer all around the ceiling, and wipe dead ants off the walls. Bauer came with me for moral support. I'll take ants to pinworms any day.
I am in the market to learn and practice that there are no bad days. In Jesus Calling this week, I read: Accept each day just as it comes to you....Instead of regretting or resenting the way things are, thank Me in all circumstances. As if that wasn't specific enough, a couple days later, I read: Trust Me enough to let things happen without striving to predict or control them...Rather than fearing your inadequacy, rejoice in My abundant supply.
I am thankful that joy can be given to us in hard things. I get to see and experience parts of life that keep me humble. I get to be more childlike, more trusting, more open to be helped. I get to practice both surrender and gratitude.
“But the story is also about my taking joys as they come...”
I'm seeing that challenges and changes spark deeper ways to be human and different ways to be happy.
One week ago today, just before I went in to my counseling appointment, I sat in my van in the parking lot and made a "Ta-Da List." I got the idea from one of Gretchen Rubin's recent podcasts. Instead of making a list of things you need to do, you make a list of things to celebrate having already done. I tweaked the idea just a little to also include a celebration of my loves and my joys right now. I wrote the list as if instead of going to counseling, I was going to coffee. These are the things I'd want to share with a friend, things that give me joy and inspiration or things that I've worked through and tackled recently.
The list won't make sense in every regard to an outsider. But for kicks, I have sold five items on Poshmark, found a new favorite country song, had a ski lesson from the legendary Greenville ski school instructor, enjoyed a real live cowboy wedding in Tulsa, bought and began Jean Fleming's book (now in my top five favorite books ever), started writing Morning Pages, finished two books on our Oklahoma trip, reflected on forever friendships, gotten into a nice rhythm for our home days, and completed a therapeutic goal of making some old things right.
Now I could add that I've survived pinworms, home renovations, and ants in the apartment, all of which gave me a boost for having worked out my flexible muscles. And in easier-to-receive fashion, I have also been blessed with the privilege to eat at Tandem three times in the past two weeks, to finally meet my friend's adopted daughter from Haiti, and to get an amazing haircut from my talented hairdresser. No matter what, no bad days, and no bad hair days either.
