“Cynicism is not realistic
and tough. It’s unrealistic and kind of cowardly because
it means you don’t have to try.” ~ Peggy Noonan
Good
morning!
All of my
friends can attest that I have an incredibly low
tolerance for those who are cynical, pessimistic, or buried beneath
excuses. We all
have challenges and
obstacles to face, and we all have the power to overcome them.
I was having a
conversation with a new friend the other
day. She is a very
sweet young lady who
is bouncy, fun, energetic, and optimistic.
I actually thought she must have had a pretty
typical upbringing,
because, at age twenty, she was vibrant and ready to tackle the world. We began sharing about our
pasts: My parents
divorced shortly after my birth, her parents had never been married. Neither of us had a real
relationship with
our fathers, nor saw them often. We
both
grew up at what would be considered “poverty” level.
She had lost her cousin, who was like a
sister, to suicide. I
had lost my
brother through a fatal reaction to a bee sting.
Our “nontypical” sharing continued.
I expressed my
surprise at the life she had lived thus far in
twenty short years (just as I remember so many expressing that same
sentiment
to me when I was twenty). She
shared how
many friends felt “sorry” for her and how she couldn’t stand that. She is happy and confident
with who she is
and realizes that each experience, although painful, made her into the
young
woman she is today. I
have said that
exact statement many times. We
can’t
filter life and just take the good without the bad.
We are a sum of our experiences – but it is
up to us whether that sum will be positive or negative.
Your Turn:
No matter
where you have been, what you are facing, or what lies in your future,
you can
overcome. Empower
yourself.
Today’s Affirmation:
I
empower myself to move forward and find the resources and support to do
so.
And as always, don't forget
to
start your day with a heartfelt: "Something great is
going to
happen today... I can't wait to see what it is!"
And when ending
your day ask yourself: "What is one more thing I can do
to
make today matter?
