One of my favorite quotes is from Thoreau, "It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." How profound is that!?!?! Perspective is everything! It's kind of one of those glass half full or empty, life gives you lemons kind of a thing. How are you going to see your world? And that's the best part...you get to decide the lens through which you view your life circumstances. Is there a better gift than that? You have the power and the ability to make lemonade or complain that your glass isn't as full as your neighbors.
Today one of my PAs made the comment that his plate is overflowing with school work, med school applications, PA responsibilities and many other things, but he has decided to tackle everything with a positive attitude. To him, there was no point in grumbling about all the tasks he has to complete, but realizing that it will be much easier to conquer the mountainous "to do" list with a positive attitude. Why is it so difficult for the rest of us to follow suit and live life with the same attitude?
My singleness is probably the issue that I struggle with the most. I often times view it as a prison sentence instead of a time to explore and learn about myself. My perception of my current circumstance is totally off! A dear friend advised me that instead of praying to find Mr. Right, that I should focus on being thankful for the life stage that I am in. I am in a phase of my life where I can pick up and do whatever I want to! I can move across the country, take a vacation anywhere I want, splurge on a manicure or have cereal for dinner, all because I want to! I was so focused on the negative aspects of being single that I never stopped to realize that my cup was overflowing with opportunity. I was looking at my life and seeing disappointment but when I shifted my focus all I saw were possibilities. Once I changed my perspective I was able to move ahead and become much more joyful in my approach to life.
My wish for you is that you will take a deeper look into your circumstances and identify areas that you can "see"differently. Thoreau was right, its not what you look at but what you see! A potter doesn't see a mound of clay but a beautiful bowl or a stately statue. How can you change your perspective and find more joy in your life?
I really like the quote you mentioned, Ashley. I think it sums up the idea quite nicely. I also liked the alternative viewpoint you presented in regards to being single. I may complain about not having a cuddle buddy or someone to pretend to watch basketball games with, but in the end, I am person freed from potential pitfalls of relationships. For example, I LIVE for my alone time – it’s what recharges me and enables me to deal with mass amounts of people on a daily basis. Currently, I’m able to go watch a movie, eat, walk/run, and dance by myself. Being in a relationship would most certainly curtail these activities to a certain point, but I’m aware that sharing these moments is a requisite for dating. Basically, there are a lot of things I may take for granted now that later on I may not be able to freely partake in without considering someone else’s feelings. So what I’ve decided to do is take full advantage of everything my singleness has to offer. Of course, it would still be nice to meet someone one day, but up until that happens, I know I will be content with myself as my company. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes that also happens to be by Thoreau. "I have never found a companion so companionable as solitude." I have honestly found this to be my utter truth.
ReplyDelete…btw, I totally just had cereal for dinner! ( :
-Rigo
My mother in law and I had this conversation last week. Everyone thought she would quickly find someone after her husband died because she was the type of person that didn't like to be alone.....but she hasn't even really looked and doesn't really want to....s she's enjoying being able to do what she wants when she wants and how she wants...for example, she just redid the floors in her house and did not have to negotiate colors or style with anyone.....its all about outlook and perspective.
ReplyDeleteHow very true. There's always a brighter perspective to use in life, but its usually so much easier to focus on the bad. Focusing on what is good and wonderful makes all the difference.
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