This Thing Called Life

I’m doing it.

I’m doing it as best I can.

I'm doing it by rote some days.

I’m doing it in survival mode some days.

I’m doing it with all the patience and humor I can muster every day.

I’m doing it with an awful lot of impatience and frustration, too.

I’m doing it with tears and laughter and self-doubt and prayers and determination.

I’m doing it with yelling and slammed doors and some sharp words, as well.

I’m doing it with hope that tomorrow will be easier.

I’m doing it when that tomorrow is even more painful or difficult than any day before it.

I'm really trying to enjoy it, but oftentimes I just do it because I have no alternatives.

I'm doing it when there are moments of joy.

I’m doing it when it isn't enjoyable, too.

I’m doing it because no one else will.

I'm doing it for those times when I feel a sheer rush of exhilaration.

I’m doing it when it’s bone crushing hard work.

I'm doing it and trying to learn something new each day.

I’m doing it when the day’s events bore me to tears.

I’m doing it when it’s nothing but disappointments and failed plans.

I’m doing it even on days when the nicest thing I could say about it is nothing at all.

I hope someday I can be less critical of how I'm doing it.

This thing called life…

101 Words to Express Good

When I finally watched The Secret for the first time a few nights ago, I was really struck by the part where the presenter said, "there are really only two emotions."  Based on their graphic and my imagination and tools this is how I visualize that statement.

What you feel is a reflection of what is in the process of becoming.  The better you feel, the more you are in alignment with your goals.  I recognize, big secret or no, that using positive words and feeling good about myself and my life have been a struggle lately and I was needing an easy way to shift my thoughts back into the good realm on days when things don't go my way.  So I've decided to consciously try to infuse my thoughts and speaking with good words.

101 words I can use to express GOOD:

love

appreciation

hope

happiness

joy

belonging

affection

allegiance

cherished

friendship

respect

worship

enjoyment

devotion

relish

rapture

gratitude

recognition

achievement

ambition

aspiration

inspiration

bouyancy

confidence

desire

optimism

faith

security

blessedness

cheer

contentment

delight

exhileration

exuberance

felicity

pleasure

prosperity

good humor

peace of mind

vivacity

bliss

charm

comfort

exhultation

gladness

glee

liveliness

refreshed

satisfaction

elation

treat

acceptance

affinity

inclusion

kinship

loyalty

rapport

equanimity

ease

serenity

enchantment

jollity

mirth

fun

light heartedness

abundance

accomplishment

benefit

growth

increase

success

thriving

wealth

approval

cooperation

calm

composed

patient

poise

harmony

relationship

togetherness

simpatico

relaxed

gratification

tranquility

ample

plenty

plethora

profusion

bountiful

generous

inexhaustable

kind

warmth

progress

embolden

influence

excitement

adore

live

Wow!  Don't you feel good just reading that list?

My Own Personal World

I finally made it to church for the first time since I moved away from Utah.

I know.  It was long postponed and way over due.

But I did get myself there.

That is the important thing right?

And yes, it was comforting to walk in and know exactly what to expect.  Familiar music, meetings formatted the same way, and lesson material that's consistent all over the world.  Yet there were some subtle differences in how this ward accomplishes things.  Some I felt an immediate appreciation for and others will need to grow on me.  But most importantly I made a new friend, met the next door neighbor and got my spirit refreshed.  I think I'm going to fit right in and be very happy here.

Photo credit:  lds.org

Material for the Relief Society lesson was drawn from Jeffrey R. Holland's talk at October 2012 General Conference.  One of the key points the teacher made was that during Conference, or even other times when you see or hear a General Authority speak, you never hear them pronouncing doom and gloom and wringing their hands over the state of the world.  No matter what terrible things are going on, the message is positive and encouraging.

Why?

We live in the last great dispensation, the fullness of times, and (I'm not sure I'd ever realized this or at least I never consciously thought about it this way before) it's the time when victory is assured.  All previous dispensations have ended in apostasy... this final one will not.  Good will finally triumph and mankind will be saved.

When that knowledge is an absolute, it allows one the peace of mind to take the focus off of very troubling world events and put the attention on making our own little world the best it can be.  It gives us the chance to fill our personal space and thoughts and very character with all that is good and beautiful.  We can simply tune out all the negative messages and live positive, productive, happy lives.

And that's just what I'm off to do!