Don't Forget to Breathe
Everything Will Be Ok, One Way or Another.
Originally written in 2021.
Family emergencies. Deadlines at work. Sickness. Death of loved ones. Loss of job. Betrayal. Divorce. The guy that cut you off in traffic. Let’s face it — sometimes, life sucks. It can seem like we just can’t catch a break, the world on our shoulders, conspiring against us. And right when we see a glimmer of hope on the horizon, tragedy tends to strike again, bringing us right down to the depths of our stress and anxiety.
Despite whatever is going on in your life, I tend to believe that things will work out somehow, even if it’s not the way we wanted, even when the path causes a lot of pain.
Life isn’t always fair
I’ve often wondered why good people suffer and bad people prosper. It’s a question many have asked throughout history. Nothing hit harder than watching my father, a good man for all intents and purposes, suffering for years at the hands of cancer — and watching others who lie, cheat, steal, manipulate, and harm walk happily with a clean bill of health. I don’t understand it, but I simply accept it.
We can either choose to wallow in our misery at the hand we’ve been dealt, or we can make the best of every situation. It’s up to us what path we take: blame the world and do nothing, or rise above it and improve our own circumstances.
One Issue at a Time
If you’re anything like me, sometimes it can feel like you’re juggling a dozen flaming pufferfish while dancing a tightrope. Our schedules are crazy. The demands on our attention and responsibilities numerous. It can be downright overwhelming, draining us of all energy and motivation.
As I write this, life is pretty damn good. I am gainfully employed in a company I love. My kids are kind and brilliant. My partner is loving and caring. And my friends are quite possibly the best I could ever ask for. But I’m also juggling my own issues. Dad’s Estate/lawyer calls. Personal health concerns. Scheduling and activities for both my kids and my partner’s kids. Work deadlines and new opportunities for growth. Picking up our kitty’s ashes from the vet. How do I handle it?
One issue at a time. I force myself to push the items I can’t handle right this moment to the back of my mind and only focus on the things I can handle right now. I do not allow myself to dwell on the pain or the worry for too long, knowing that the more I allow them to drag me down, the more other areas in my life begin to suffer.
There’s a difference between bottling things up and compartmentalizing them. Train your mind to only focus on one thing at a time. Consciously deny your brain the opportunity to wander and fret. Set a list of goals for that day. Block time out on your calendar to get away for a moment. Close your eyes. Just relax.
Life Goes On
“If there is one thing in life that I have learned about life it is… it goes on.” Robert Frost
The world turned long before we arrived. And it will be here long after we are gone. At the end of the day, we can only control our own actions, and hope that others will do the same.
If nothing else, we can say in the end that we did all we could. With our head held high and our conscience clear.
I choose to breathe and believe that everything will be ok, one way or another.
If you know someone that would like or benefit from this post, please do share. :)