I attended an all-day MK educational/work event yesterday. With a fresh start to a new year, I’ve been encouraged to experiment with my daily walk with God. I now want to make little tweaks to my daily routine to positively affect my livelihood in a HUGE way.
Although my husband and I have disciplined ourselves to include daily devotionals a part of our lives, I want my own discipline for me. My MK director encouraged me to wake up each morning thanking God for 10 blessings in my life. Yesterday, I wrote out a simple list of 10 things I’m grateful for, whether they’re material, spiritual or just personal items, I was sure to list them. My list of thanks included the following (in no particular rank or order):
1. My husband
2. My spiritual life
3. My spiritual wisdom
4. Our house
5. Our car
6. Our puppies
7. The health of our pregnancy
8. Our friends
9. Our family
10. My overall great life
It took only seconds to think of 10 things to be grateful for at that moment. My New Year’s resolution is to start off the day with a positive attitude so I can always expect great things to come. I have it in me to be the infectious positive influence to those around me. I could never see myself as being the killjoy in the group. I want to leave any room satisfied knowing that I may have brightened up someone’s day by just being happy and grateful for the blessings in my life. I have the wisdom to know that in order to start my day with “positive expectancy,” I must start from a place of gratitude. As Ed Young Jr., the emphatic preacher at Fellowship Church in Grapevine, TX suggests, I too strongly believe negative people are smaller than positive people in the grand scheme of things. But sometimes there are those influential people in our lives who seem to bring the cloud of darkness into every situation.
For instance, there was someone who was once a part of my church and social life. Although she’s been blessed with beauty, talent, creativity and outgoing charm, she seems to ALWAYS be miserable. Every time she walks into a room, instead of cheerfully greeting those she’s around, she dumps her ongoing struggles and problems. She can’t just be happy, and I can’t understand it. Every sigh she releases is one of frustration, disappointment and/or disgust with all things or people in her life. It’s as if her mission is to bring the storm rather than infect people with positivity. I wish I had the guts to ask her, why would you want to be the negative interruption in people’s lives? If you really care and love those around you, why dump your problems and frustrations on them? Does that show that you truly care and love them?
As my MK director so beautifully stated, “When you want more, you must be grateful for where you are now.” Positive expectancy is an area of attitude change that brings about abundance in life. We all want more and I’m sure we all feel we deserve more in our own right. Some of us work towards achieving more by surrounding ourselves with people who think bigger than us. Others surround themselves with people they aspire to one day be like. Purposely surrounding yourself in positively influential surroundings is a means of striving for positive expectancy, I believe. As I’ve stated in a previous blog post back on July 12, 2010, we are where we are by the choices we make. Why not choose to be positive? Why not be the person that infects positivity that leaves a lasting impression? It’s totally do-able, but only if we choose to be happy for where we currently are and purposely begin from a place of gratitude. Would you agree that we all have so many things to be thankful for?
But it’s so much easier said than done. In fact, this morning I already began complaining with my fears and worries about bringing home baby. We have our marriage and careers, 3 dogs and a house to care for. It’s daunting to think about juggling these while trying to figure out how to raise a child. I’m plagued with doubts… how am I ever going to learn how to care for this baby when I’ve got 3 yapping pups and other important priorities surrounding me? It’s hard enough at the beginning…but I’ve already set expectations that it’s going to be a nightmare at first. So what if it is? I’m a strong woman blessed with a huge support system. There is no reason I should dread how hard the first few weeks with baby could potentially be. Envisioning the stress and frustration at this point already negates my intention to live by positive expectancy. Why can’t I just expect that God will guide me as I find a way and make a way?
It’s so much easier said than done! But at this point, all I can do is trust that through my faith in the Lord and by positively expecting things could actually work out for the better, already my attitude can bring about a HUGE change in me. Coming from a place of gratitude for my support system and faith will set me up for living each day with positive expectancy. As I’ve stated in the beginning of this long post, that’s exactly my point!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Six more weeks to go!
Not only is it hard to believe that it’s now 2011, but it’s surreal to know I have just six more weeks to go in my pregnancy. Baby Isaac is due mid-February, and I love telling people I will have a baby next month! I don’t know what feeling overwhelms me more – excitement or absolute terror. Anyone who knows me is familiar with my rather low threshold for pain. How am I ever going to pop out a baby? But on the flip side, all I can think about is bringing a new life into this world. I can’t wait to see my husband as a father. I can’t wait to meet my baby boy for the first time. Already this baby is so loved. We’re all so eager to finally meet him.
I must admit, it makes my day when strangers congratulate me on my baby bump or receiving special treatment from passersby everywhere I go. Clearly, it’s hard for me to do simple things on my own. There have been so many nice people along the way who offer a hand to a pregnant woman on her feet. I get so tickled when people take notice of me noticing other toddlers from a distance. I’ve even had some businessman at Starbucks ask me if I’m ready for what’s ahead after watching me watch a mom with her baby boy.
Just before New Year’s my husband and I ate at our neighborhood Cheddars – I had a specific craving. In the parking lot, we both went gaga over this precious little girl who had to be 3 or 4 years old. She was too adorable for words. She was a spunky one. Funny enough, her family was seated directly across from us. Each time I could secretly admire her lovable spirit, I’d glance over to see her enjoying her food.
Just after we paid our bill, we got up from the table to leave and I noticed as I stood up, the little girl looked directly at me as if she’d been trying to get my attention. When she noticed that I noticed her, she gave me the biggest, warmest smile I’ve ever seen. This precious little girl completely made by day by flashing such a beautiful and genuine smile. My husband noticed and as we exited the restaurant, he leaned over to me and said, “Well that was the cutest thing ever!”
She warmed my heart and another fleeting moment overwhelmed my soul. Once again, I couldn’t wait to be a mommy. She was just so precious and so full of energy. I appreciated how she didn’t shy away when I smiled back. In fact, she just smiled bigger! It was a nice way to end the evening and I know I’ll never forget the way that little one warmed my heart so. Man…I’m SO ready to have this baby!
I must admit, it makes my day when strangers congratulate me on my baby bump or receiving special treatment from passersby everywhere I go. Clearly, it’s hard for me to do simple things on my own. There have been so many nice people along the way who offer a hand to a pregnant woman on her feet. I get so tickled when people take notice of me noticing other toddlers from a distance. I’ve even had some businessman at Starbucks ask me if I’m ready for what’s ahead after watching me watch a mom with her baby boy.
Just before New Year’s my husband and I ate at our neighborhood Cheddars – I had a specific craving. In the parking lot, we both went gaga over this precious little girl who had to be 3 or 4 years old. She was too adorable for words. She was a spunky one. Funny enough, her family was seated directly across from us. Each time I could secretly admire her lovable spirit, I’d glance over to see her enjoying her food.
Just after we paid our bill, we got up from the table to leave and I noticed as I stood up, the little girl looked directly at me as if she’d been trying to get my attention. When she noticed that I noticed her, she gave me the biggest, warmest smile I’ve ever seen. This precious little girl completely made by day by flashing such a beautiful and genuine smile. My husband noticed and as we exited the restaurant, he leaned over to me and said, “Well that was the cutest thing ever!”
She warmed my heart and another fleeting moment overwhelmed my soul. Once again, I couldn’t wait to be a mommy. She was just so precious and so full of energy. I appreciated how she didn’t shy away when I smiled back. In fact, she just smiled bigger! It was a nice way to end the evening and I know I’ll never forget the way that little one warmed my heart so. Man…I’m SO ready to have this baby!
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