So I've really been struggling lately. I mean really struggling. The stress of moving Jake away, the difficulties associated with being 750 miles apart, and the anxiety over Jake's impending deployment have joined forces to turn me into a giant, frazzled, stress ball of negativity. Ever find yourself in a funk you know you have to get out of, but can't figure out how to do it? Where to start? That's exactly where I am right now. It's maddening, really. But no amount of self-cajoling seems to make me budge. So I'm left with no other choice...
It's time to start redirecting my attention. I think a big part of my problem is a little "forest for the trees" syndrome--I'm so focused on the foreground that I can't see past it. Ultimately, this is a problem of perspective.
Don't misunderstand me here. Some parts of our life are very challenging right now. Downright crappy if you ask me. But here's the truth: there's light in every situation. There's always something to learn. Things really do work together for good. So instead of focusing so much on the bad right in front of me, I'm going to start digging a little deeper. Are these challenges teaching me something important? Is there a blessing here that I'm missing? Is my focus on the hard parts making me miss other good things around me? I don't just want to answer these questions with "yeses" or "nos," I want to put specific words to the things I should be grateful for, even in this trying season. I want to have an attitude of gratitude. And though I may take these out of order (and I'm open to suggestions about other topics), I want to focus on these areas:
- Gratitude in being a wife
- Gratitude in motherhood
- Gratitude in military life
- Gratitude in work
- Gratitude in solitude
- Gratitude in blessings
- Gratitude in friendships
- Gratitude in the home
- Gratitude in self
- Gratitude in routine
The blog format tends to lend itself to monologue, but with this series I would really appreciate insights from others. So if something I'm saying speaks to you, sparks you, or reminds you of lessons you think will be helpful to me, please don't be shy about commenting.
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