2019: Let’s do this!

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I like watching zombie movies and other dystopian fiction. I always try to figure out how long I would make it in the same senecio. I mean, I figure I would make it past the first wave of attacks. But as soon as I got hurt, the temperature got too cold, I had to sleep outside or go without a snack for more than 5 minutes… I would be done. I would die of a cold or something lame.

I’ve never thought of myself as physically tough. I wanted my word for the year to be strength. I want strength! Because the going has been tough in some places.

Like in the last couple of months. Back to school time, as both a teacher and a mom, was arduous for sure. Then, challenging behaviors, setting routines, teaching social skills to my 6 year old with Autism… yeah that’s been kinda hard. Well, not terrible, but just hard enough to disappoint me and interfere with my plans. One crappy school drop off, then I’m late for work. Again. And my two year old developed asthma. In general, I’ve been pooped on, thrown up on, coughed on and had plenty of minor mommy type setbacks to my daily routine.

However, I’ve got a bunch of wonderful parts of my life. Actually, it’s all beautiful. It’s just been a rollercoaster ride. Success and then regression. And I keep waiting for it to get easier. But seriously, I’m not sure it is supposed to be easy? Who said life was intended to be all ups and no downs?

But that’s what you say to new moms isn’t it? “Don’t worry. It gets easier.” And while you grow as a parent and gain experience, I would challenge that and say, it doesn’t get easier. Once you master one challenge, you get a new one to figure out. And then another.

Conflict and challenges. Isn’t that what makes a great story? The main character overcoming obstacles along their journey. Epic tales are filled with conflict and adventure.

Maybe life is just hard sometimes? No reason; It just is. And maybe it allows me to write an interesting story. I really need to quit comparing because…

“It’s rough all over Pony Boy.” -SE Hinton The Outsiders

It really is. Everyone has their own battles. But sometimes I fail to see past my own story, or I compare my situation to others far to often and create my own disappointments.

This year, I had a friend whose son suddenly started having seizures. Test after test and months of investigation, And then he had to have brain surgery. Her ten year old son had brain surgery! It was scary! (Now, he is doing amazingly! He is all good, and this NYE they celebrated life, goodness and the abundance they have been given. Yay!)

I’m just saying “NO” to easy this year. I’m not even hoping for easy, but I do want to persevere. I want to persevere in the tough times but also in the mundane, day to day, ordinary life challenges.

Persevere: steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

I think I’ve said, “I’m done.” Like a hundred times this last month. But I can’t be done. I may need strength, but really I just need to keep going. I gotta persevere!

Go back?” he thought. “No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!” So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword held in front of him and one hand feeling the wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter.” -Tolkien The Hobbit

I can’t control the ups and downs of life, but I can control how I react.

I want to write my own beautiful story.

I want to listen to the stories of others.

I want to see the beauty and abundance in the hard pathways.

“You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.”

Psalms 65:11 NLT

My simple goal: Read, Pray, Persevere and Guide

Read stories of those who have been there before.

Pray not from relief of daily challenges, but for the strength of spirit in difficult situations.

Persevere and refrain from saying “I’m done.” Go forward!

Guide Others when I am able too. Because we are in this crazy life together and sometimes I’ve got something someone else needs to hear.

2019: Let’s persevere! Then, maybe even I, can survive the zombie apocalypse.

My January Reading List:

• Finish Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis (I have like 5 chapters left)

• The Lucky Few by Heather Avis

• The Best Yes by Luda Terkurst