putting up a good fight

What do you do in a fight? I have personally never been in a real fight in my life but in life I have fought many of the "unseen" battles this life sometimes throws! You know the ones that hit you when you are not looking! Well, I'm sure many can relate to those blows that life throws. When things are going well, it seem like you finally have it together and, bam! Life throws you a curve ball.

Well, in life I have had too many curve balls to count. But, it seems that those things are what make me a stronger person. Looking back I can see that those are the things that have shaped my character and made me a stronger person in the long run. I heard it said that pain is just weakness leaving the body. How amazing to see something that is painful as actually strengthening us.

I guess if you thought about it like going to the gym than it would all make sense. You see, I am comfortable when I eat whatever I want and sit on the couch. But, when I go to the gym and get on the elliptical it is always a pain to get through the first 5 minutes. The first five minutes on that machine are the most grueling and painful. My muscles are not prepared (even with stretching) to push through the cycle of "getting going". Everything inside of me is screaming "I don't want to do this". But, I push through the pain and slowly but surely my muscles warm up and it becomes easier with every push to keep the momentum. It is the first five minutes of pain that I really struggle with. However, the next time I step on that machine I can feel that it is easier than the last and the more often I do it the easier it gets. I guess, with working out and with life it is the same thing. It is really hard to get through something at first but the more I work at it the easier it gets. Hence, the weakness is leaving my body and those trials become less painful the more work I put into them.

So this makes me think, do I really work out the things in my life that need shaping? Do I push through the pain to gain strength or do I just let it take over me and sit in the unhealthy comfort of doing nothing? In the long run this is not good for me and I am ultimately depressed when I don't see the results I want to achieve. The real question is how bad do I want it?

How bad to I want the desired result? When you are in a fight and someone is throwing punches you are going to get hurt if you do not protect yourself and fight back. It is the same way in life. You must fight though the circumstances that may be painful. Do not let them overtake you, keep yourself in good physical, mental and emotional condition or you will be that much more unprepared when those "life blows" come your way.

Good Advice from Audrey Hepburn

For attractive lips,
Speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes,
Seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure,
Share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair,
Let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.
For poise,
Walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
People, even more than things,
Have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed,
And redeemed; never throw out anyone.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand,
You will find one at the end of each of your arms.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands;
One for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

For Inspiration Read This:

Aunt Ruthanne's Blog:


http://www.sugarpiefarmhouse.com/savor-the-gifts-of-gods-goodness


I truly enjoy reading her blog. It always makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! If you need something to brighten up your day I suggest you click the link above.

Always,

T

OK, OK....

I am sitting here contemplating life once more. With just the sound of the clicking of the keyboard under my fingers, a jet flying over head and stomping of feet down the hallway. I swear when people walk through the halls it sounds like heard of elephants. I never considered myself to be a nine to five type person. I have put some real effort into staying away from the "corporate culture" that is fake smiles and office rules. Like, don't actually be real with anyone, make sure you wear something that makes you look important while you secretly surf myspace and shop for shoes all day!


I think it is funny how people revert back to a child like nature when they are at work - things that would normally not interest them becomes very interesting once they step through the doors and clock in. Like, I'm going to put a weird drawing on someone's desk or her pen holder is better than mine!

As for me, the most entertaining thing is the candy dish on my desk! See, I am currently temping as a receptionist for the next couple of weeks and it is so so so funny how people truly look forward to the candy dish. Every time they walk by, inching closer and closer, trying not to be obvious that they want to devour the dish. They dig through it like they are searching for a hidden treasure! "Chocolate - happy day, there is chocolate today". I can' t lie. Chocolate does make me smile. But, funny how they always come to talk to me when the dish is full and when it is empty they are all gone. They pass quickly though the hallway, glancing at the dish... if there is no good candy, than I don't get a conversation. Just that fake smile and nod. Like a consolation prize for not filling the dish! oh my!

My mom told me a story about rain. Which is why I named my blog, "When it rains, it’s a monsoon!" It seems the analogy for life’s problems can be found in the rain. For when it rains, it is relentlessly pouring down on the world around us, changing the temperature of our lives, and ultimately we cannot control it. We can however control how we deal with the rain, which is the perspective and the action that we take to that perspective.

In my mother's story she gives some different analogies of personality types and how they deal with the rain. In her scenario they walk outside, see that it is raining, they have no umbrella, and their car is on the other side of the parking lot. What do they do?

Some would just accept that it is raining despite the fact that they will get a little wet and they choose to make a run for it. It may be a bother but they can get though it and they know they will dry off eventually. Others may be resourceful and find something to shield themselves with such as a newspaper, their coat or some other thing. Some may just make the best of the situation and even though getting wet was not planned they leap out into the pouring rain and throw their hands up letting it wash over them. Some may curse the rain and blame the universe for frowning upon them. They might just believe that this is all an evil plot against them. While others may call a friend who can bring them an umbrella, they would rather have someone help them out than figure it out on their own.

Although these are extreme reactions to a not-so-extreme scenario these personality types are alive and kicking in the world around us.

I know my type right off the bat! I would just run to my car and if I am in a good mood... I'll throw up my hands and get really wet on purpose! But, that is just me. I think finding the humor in a bad situation always makes me feel at least a little bit better. They say laughter is the best medicine. Well, it is free medicine!

In my life when it rains it's usually a monsoon. See, there is no slight drizzle in my world! When it comes to my problems it is an all out storm! Throughout my life's journey I have learned how to deal with those situations and grow from them. This makes me think, it does take water to grow things. When it rains, no matter how inconvenient it may be, life grows all around us. You see, we need the rain to survive. Sometimes we need tragedy and problematic situations to grow ourselves. If life was just great all the time we would never really know how to deal, especially when things don't go according to plan.

So, with the storm comes new life, restoration of thirsty and weathered life, and cleansing of the dirt and muck built up from when it was dry outside. Not that it is without pain or suffering but what do you do in the midst of your storm? Better yet, how do you perceive the storm itself?

I guarantee there is no right answer for everyone. Everyone will experience their own storms differently. But, it is about perspective! Which perspective you will have is a choice that you get to make. You cannot choose the weather but you can choose how to deal with it.
I have been bringing up the serenity prayer to people a lot lately but it is so freaking true!

God grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, change the things that I cannot accept and the wisdom to know the difference.

It is the wisdom to know that difference that really gets me. I just don’t want to accept that it is raining sometimes! The monsoon is here and I am in full denial. But, I can’t change it, it’s here and there is nothing I can do to stop it. What I need to do is change my perspective on that storm. Am I going to be pro-active or let it encompass and debilitate me?

Sometimes what perspective I take is the only choice I really have control over! When I realize I’m not in control of the rain it makes things easier and takes a lot of responsibility off of me!
Just something to think about!