I Don't Have Time for This!

Today when I was walking back to the train after a longer day at work than I had planned on I noticed my phone was having some issues and thought, "I don't have time for this!" Then I thought about what I had just thought and realized that there will probably never come a day when I think, "Today I have time for something, or everything to go wrong. Today it won't upset me, and I can deal with all the stress and headache." I had to smile to myself (but I was still not happy about my phone).

After I got home I found out that my much anticipated plans for the evening were no longer an option. "I don't deserve this!" I thought, perpetuating my negative mood. After all, I had just finished a long day, and the anticipation of the exciting evening was one of the things that helped pull me through the day. Didn't I deserve to go have some fun?

As a distraction I decided to get online and send some emails. Well, the first email I opened made it clear that even though I am now employed my days of financial worry are far from over. "I can't deal with this!" was my first stress filled thought. Then a dear friend of mine reminded me that things will work out, and that there are proactive steps I can take. She gave me hope that I really can deal with this.

A couple emails later, I came across a letter from my brother. He is in Russia, and dealing with some totally unfair circumstances completely out of his control - things he does not have time for, does not deserve, and could very easily feel he can not deal with. But, he never mentioned any of those negative feelings. Instead, my little brother set a wonderful example for me reminding me that we choose our response to our circumstances and that so often true joy comes through our troubles as we learn how to be strong, and to swallow pride, and to feel and express true joy for others.

Hopefully I've gotten my selfish pity party out of my system for the next while, and I can instead focus on the incredibly wonderful things in my life. There are so many! Thanks to you my brother (even though you won't be reading this any time soon :)