My sister shared this motto with me. A while back, I apologize for not remembering who, someone wrote an interesting post saying that life is like playing Candy Crush with each level getting harder. I had really mixed feelings about this. When your life starts out screwed up, it is hard to figure out how things can get worse. Many years ago, I came across a children's book called "It could always be worse." Then I was blessed with encountering about 5 more versions of the same thing. What is coming together with all this is I live in a country and society that is looking for 'easy' living....no problems....constant bliss...it is just not happening. I believe we came to Earth to learn. Learnin' ain't always easy. My weird theory is if I am taking it easy I am either recovering from a rough round or it is the calm before the storm. After I had cancer surgery, my husband bought me a membership to a gym. I figured he was going to finish me off. I went to the gym and this punk kid younger than my children told me to hop on the scales. I said, "No." I told him I wanted to rebuild my strength so I could take a gallon of milk out of the refrigerator without dropping it. When I could do that, I quit going to the gym. A couple of years ago, my daughter suggested that the kids get together and pay for Zumba classes for me. I laughed and said I would be able to do about half. That was how it started. Two years later, I can do the entire class including jumping and dropping it low. Exercising I am gaining in strength and ability that I couldn't do in the first place. I can do planks, pushups, jumping-jacks, and all sorts of things that I couldn't do 5 - 10 - or 15 years ago. I am learning from exercise the the greatest strength I have is determination to keep going.
I've been at rock bottom time and time again. My counselor once asked me the advantage of hitting bottom again...I shot right back, "It's familiar territory." A few years ago, I was laid off. At the time, I was needing a time to heal and figure things out without all the pressure from work. I took the time to finish my photography degree, help my family, and take time to get my feet under me. I am going to take the SEAL motto as mine too. The only easy day was yesterday...I have things to do, places to go and people to meet....I want to learn and grow and strengthen who I am... that means there are challenges ahead that I will push my way through because I believe I can do what I set my mind to do. When I take on challenges, the only easy day was yesterday.
1 comment:
Some alcoholics have to hit rock bottom before they realize the only way is up. Some hit harder than others but they tend to be the ones that make the most remarkable recovery!
You don't have to be in AA to find out what can be accomplished one day at a time and one step at a time, even if they're baby steps!
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