Every so often I get inspired and I need to write something. Sometimes it’s a poem, sometimes it’s more like a journal entry. Sometimes they are about difficult things. Other times they are reflections or dreams or wishes. Below is something I wrote at the end of November. I rarely share these writings but I felt this one would be great to share after the holidays to carry on the holiday joy. But then I realized that not everyone has holiday joy right now. People are mourning their first Christmas after a loved one passed. Or they are frazzled with all the shopping, wrapping, and parties. Or maybe the Christmas magic and believing in others has faded just a bit from last year. Wherever you are at this holiday season, I hope this inspires you and reminds you that the world is still a wonderfully magical place.
What is the one thing people want out of life? Is it money? The fancy car? The beautiful house? Perfect family? Or are those just the things they believe will give them the feeling they really seek – the feeling of home. The comfort of being loved and having ones to love. I think human nature in its purest form is kind and caring. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t show it.
Think about it, when you are in a good mood, you are more likely to smile at the person you pass at the grocery store. More likely to hold open the door for the person behind you. Give grace to the person not driving how you wish they would.
But when we have bad days or moments, we let those emotions bleed into others. We cut people off at the checkout, let other’s actions get to us for no reason, tailgate a bit too closely. And for what? To make them have a bad day too? Does misery really love company so much that one feels better when they don’t treat everyone with grace and kindness? No. Life doesn’t work that way.
The happiest people aren’t the ones that have everything they wish for. They aren’t the ones who have 50% of what they wish for when you feel you only have 49%. The happiest people are the ones who look at what they have, not what they have not.
I believe the best day of your life is when you can look at everything with gratitude. Maybe you have picky eaters, but at least you have mouths to feed. Maybe the person in front of you is driving too slowly, but at least you have somewhere to be and the means to get there. Heck, I’ll even throw in that your period came a day early but at least you can afford the products you need for it!
We take so many things for granted. We worry about what other people think of us but they are too busy worrying about what you think of them. Let’s look instead at what we have and what we have accomplished. Likewise, look at what others have accomplished too. Be someone else’s cheerleader.
Theodore Roosevelt was quoted saying “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” We would be far better off if we took that to heart every day of our lives. If you don’t like how something is, do what you can to change it. Maybe it’s not going to be perfectly the way you want it, but little improvements add up to big improvements. And maybe along the way you’ll realize whatever it is you think you need or want, doesn’t have to be how you originally pictured it to make you happy.
I also would like to challenge you to think of that quote regarding others. Maybe they don’t do things the way you think they should. But you do not know where they’ve come from or where they are going. Perhaps they are already doing an amazing job with what they have where they are at. Applaud them. Acknowledge the hurdles they jump through. It will inspire them to look at others that way too. And in turn, the whole world could see things through admiring eyes and grateful hearts. How wonderfully magical that would be.
I started this by asking the one thing people want most out of life. If you look at everyone you meet with admiring eyes and look at your own life with a grateful heart, I think the answer would come naturally and we’d all find that we have it.
That was beautiful Leah! And totally true. You and your writing are true blessings! ?