Challenges are what make life interesting. Overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. Joshua J. Marine

We’ve had a fair number of challenges in our lives. Enough that, I had to make a choice. I could allow the sorrow and despair to crush me. I could surrender to the devastation and lose myself…….or I could choose to live and see the light regardless of what was happening around me.
I think this is one of the reasons that I resonate so strongly with Leonid Afremov’s paintings. There is such depth and even darkness within the paintings but there is light everywhere; and it’s glorious. It glows from within the scenes.
That’s what I want my life to be. Regardless of how dark a time is, I want the light to shine. I want to glow brightly whatever the scene around me is. I want to see the light shining and reflecting in the darkness. I want to BE a light shining and reflecting in the darkness.
It’s easy to see the light when it’s bright, but I choose to look for the light when it’s darkest out.
I refuse to allow hard times to define me. I don’t like to ask “Why me?” More often, you’ll hear me ask, “Why Not Me?” There are no guarantees in this world in regards to hardship and trouble. Life is not fair.
One benefit of looking for the light is that you find the good that comes from every situation.
Cancer is not good! My 13 year old daughter being diagnosed with Leukemia is not good. The 2.5 years of treatment is not good. The side effects of the chemo are not good. The long term physical, and emotional effects are not good.
But there is good! Having community surround you and carry you, is good. Realizing that you are stronger than you ever thought possible, mentally and emotionally, is good. Learning a deeper level of compassion and understanding for the suffering of others, is good.
I wish we never had cancer touch our family, but I WILL find the good things that came from that experience. I will hold onto those things, tightly. I will learn and grow from that experience.
I will stare at cancer, defiantly, and proclaim that it didn’t win. It didn’t destroy me. It didn’t crush me and if anything, I grew stronger.
I’ll be honest, it almost did destroy me. BUT…….it didn’t!
I choose to live a life filled with gratitude regardless of the circumstances that come along.
One thing that I am SO grateful for is life. Life is a gift. Knowing firsthand, the fragility of life and the reality of death puts perspective on EVERYTHING. My daughter could be dead, but she’s alive. That’s incredible. So what, that my car broke down or I’m having a bad hair day, or I’m late for an appointment or I’m 10 pounds heavier than I’d like to be……compared to life and death….it’s all frivolous. The reality of that perspective is a HUGE gift. Something I will forever be grateful for.
I’d love to hear what your grateful for.
ps. it doesn’t have to be as heavy as this post is. Gratitude is gratitude!
I love ALL your posts Patti! You are an inspiration to me and maybe we can meet in person one day. ?
Today I am grateful that I forgave a friend. It was not an easy process, but I did it!
Thanks! You’re very sweet! Yes, it would be lovely to meet, one day! Forgiveness is incredible. That’s SO awesome!