Hello Friends! Summer is ending soon, and I can't even tell you where it went! I got my "official" school letter today announcing the back to school breakfast and faculty meetings...........that's the first sign. Andrew is off this weekend to his Florida grandparent's house, so that is always the second sign that summer vacation is over. School starts so early this year - Aug. 15! The past few years it just seems to get earlier and earlier. There was a time when I thought Aug 24 was too early, but now that looks like an ideal date! I've been at school several days in the past couple of weeks, and it looks like I am ready.......at least the classroom looks ready. Am I ready? Might be a different answer.
Most of you know that I am over-the-moon happy with the direction of my life right now. I have lost weight, I am in a relationship with ABSOLUTELY the right person for me, Andrew has adjusted and is happy,and there seems to be less stress in my life.........at least at this moment. I hope to be able to continue to lose weight once school starts again; it is too hard to diet when I am home in the summer! Everything has settled into a very comfortable routine. It has, again, given me the chance to step outside myself and look at my life and assess.
If you know me at all, you know I am a planner. There has never been a time in my life when I didn't think planning allowed me to handle life situations well. Planning is not easy, nor is it fool-proof, especially when dealing with non-planners - as was the case in my marriage. Now I'm not saying that everyone should be a planner.....heaven knows my planning often makes me miserable! Then come children - no one can plan anything with children! But generally, I have planned for almost every possible contingency in life. Recently, however, I have begun to think that I am doing it backward, or at least causing myself added stress by planning so much!
My philosophy has been - at least for the past 25 years - "Prepare for the Worst, Hope for the Best." I thought that would reduce disappointment in my life. As I began to think along those lines, I got pretty good at figuring out what the "worst" might be. I spent hours and hours worrying about how I would handle the "what-ifs." In fact, I spent much more time worrying about those "what-ifs" than living life in the present! How silly is that? I missed things in my life because I was busy worrying about things that might or might not happen! That is often called seeing "the glass half empty." John said this in a conversation and it struck me. I DO LOOK AT LIFE THAT WAY! So much so, that sometimes, when the best happens, I am not as joyful as I could be. I am simply grateful that the worst DIDN'T happen. There is an absolute difference between the emotions!
So, my new goal........an added goal..........to look at the glass as half full. This will be a difficult adjustment, I fear, because old habits die hard. I need to embrace the here and now. Not worry about what might happen in the future..........it will either happen or not. I intend to plan, and make wise life decisions, but try really hard to change my approach. I think I will be a happier person in the long run. Plus, everything in my life is AWESOME right now, so I don't have anything to worry about. :)
Until next time, Just Julie
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