Thankful

The older I get, the more thankful I find I’ve become and the less I let the “little things ” bother me. Things that not that long ago would have really bugged me and sent me into a mental battleground, no longer have that power. I once read a book called,  “Don’t sweat the small stuff, and it’s all small stuff. ” Check it out some time, it’s all about perspective.

I find I’m putting things into perspective in a different way now. I know of several people that have unexpectedly died at a young age and have seen where many children are being diagnosed with cancer or other diseases.  There have been a lot of health issues with several family members over the past year to year and a half and on many recent rides,  I’ve found myself creating a “bucket list.” ( Things I’d like to accomplish before I die.) All of the items on my bucket list are things I want to see or do. None are material purchases and most are things I would like to do not alone,  but with my husband.  Whether or not I’ll accomplish any of them remains to be seen, but just making the list has been eye opening.

I challenge anyone reading this to try making your own bucket list. Remember it’s your list, so it doesn’t matter how likely you are to complete it or what anyone else would think about it, it’s personal to you. The bucket list I would have made 3 or 4 years ago would have looked very different from my bucket list today.

Getting back to the small stuff. Do you have times when friends or family or coworkers may get on your nerves? I think most of us do and instead of stressing about it, I’m trying to learn to embrace it. There are many people who are alone and wish they had someone to bug them. I’m not saying it’s easy to do, but when I do succeed at it I know I feel more at peace. Life’s too short not to enjoy at least part of every day. Again, there are many people who wonder if they even have 1 more day left. Be thankful even for the irritations.

There are definitely those days when I would just as soon stay in bed or on the couch and do absolutely nothing, go nowhere,  and talk to nobody. This is not an option for me though. I know there are things I need to do and people I need to help and if I didn’t force myself to get up and go on those days, I’d feel bad about it later both physically and mentally. Sleep is often highly over rated. There is a thing as too much sleep, at least for me. The days I don’t get up at my normal time, I feel worse.  I’ve tried sleeping in and later regret it. I know that’s not true for everyone,  many people need more sleep than others. This too is a personal thing we all have to evaluate and determine for ourselves. As I write this I’ve slept about 4 hours and cannot get back to sleep so figured I may as well write.

We need to choose to be thankful where we’re at, no matter how bad we think things are. If you look around,  you can always find something to be thankful for; food to eat, a roof over your head, clothes on your back, and a God that loves you in spite of yourself.  When we focus on what we have, not what we want or don’t have, it changes everything.  I’ve learned to be content where I am, most of the time. 😉 Believe me I have my moments but I try not to allow myself to stay in that moment long.

I mentioned in an earlier post I believe that we have to choose joy. We also have to choose contentment.  There will always be those who try to steal these things from you but you don’t have to allow it.

1 Chronicles 16:34 NKJV

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Colossians 3:15

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

1 Chronicles 29:13

And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.