We fight back only to get slapped in the face when said musicians accuse us of backing into their car. It matters not that they park behind our driveway in the middle of the street. We should have mastered the art of altering the earths gravitational pull, or at least run over our beautifully manicured grass in order to avoid them. Just think? We could have had normal, brownie baking neighbors, not these crazed, bass-thumping insomniacs. Mmm. Brownies.
It must be January. It's that time of year when everyone gets depressed. While walking in my neighborhood this past weekend I saw a fellow winding up his Christmas lights. He had this sad, dejected, look on his face, like someone ran over his puppy. After all, nobody wins awards for removing their holiday decorations. This must be why I don't like to put up lights, but I digress.
So how do we fight back? Do we eat more Kringle? Do we punch the neighbors? Do we seek a new job? Do we stew in our angry juices until we are forced to work out our problems through vicious stress-laden nightmares? (or is that just me?) If we feed it, disappointment festers and poisons our soul. Pretty soon we are sobbing in the ear of a co-worker who could care less(I was on the receiving end of this today). All because our expectations met reality and it was a much larger, much hairier beast than we ever could have imagined.
I say we should tackle disappointment head on. Poke it in the eye! Sock it in the gut. Seriously! Give it a knee kick to the groin. So it's cold outside and your morning walk has been sabotaged? Kick up the Katy Perry and shake your money maker in the living room. So you indulged a little too much over Christmas. Treat yourself by skipping dessert today. Imagine how great you will feel tomorrow knowing you overcame that temptation. At my place of employment we like to call this kind of solution a "work-around" or "alternative solution." What it really means is not settling for the status quo. So things didn't go your way? That's life, Baby. Bad stuff is going to happen. You are going to make poor choices. The car will breakdown. Sure, it's a bummer. It's a drag, Man! But it's not the end of the story. So you weigh 310 pounds from stuffing your face with M&M's, cookies and fudge for the past decade. Listen to me and listen closely...
Today is a new day.
Forgive yourself and move forward.
This is only a temporary setback.
Set a vision of what your life will look like 30 days from today if you make a healthy plan and stick to it. Then imagine yourself in 90 days and in one year. And when the losers at work tell you that donut is worth the calories, smile and nod(don't eat it!!) and then make a bulls eye with their face on it and throw darts at it. (at home--not at work--your supervision might frown on that) Life is too short to focus on the infinite disappointments. I encourage you to go out and write success stories. Todays failure is a life lesson learned that contributes to tomorrow's success. If you are reading this you are still alive, which means you have hope.
The moment I realized how important it was to forgive and love myself was the moment true change took root. I realized I loved myself too much not to try. Sure, part of that was wanting to prove to some people that I could do it. But honestly, I was mainly trying to prove it to myself. Yes, Margaret. You can lose the weight. It is not impossible. Yes, losers. You were wrong. Now I'm jogging circles around you(even on my bad hip).
Disappointment and pain can be the catalysts that lead to true life transformation. But only if we embrace and learn from them.
Fifteen years ago I let disappointment derail me. I nursed a broken heart until it was bloated and sick. Today I know better. Today disappointment challenges me to find a different solution, not the least of which is getting off my bum and riding my elliptical even when I don't want to. I know that Spring is coming. It comes every year and I'm counting the days. I can almost see my pink Dogwood in bloom and feel the wind in my hair as I fly down Pershall Road on my bike. No amount of snow or ice can dampen that vision.
The first day of my new and improved life began on May 5th, 2010. I was sick to death of myself and my addictions and I took a chance that maybe, just maybe, I could change. Today is January 21st, 2014. Make this the first day of your new and improved life. I promise, you won't be disappointed.
Every day is a gift you've been given. Make the most of your time, every minute you're given!
Great words, Margaret! I've been feeling the same way but forcing myself to "stick to the plan. "
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