"Practicing what you preach" whacks ya in the face sometimes!

I was tested on practicing what I preach this past weekend. Yep, it happened! I had a great day planned with my ten year old daughter. We were going to go shopping for essentials that we needed at home and a tiny bit of pleasure shopping for her, lunch, quality time, the whole....nine yards. It was going to be a great mother-daughter bonding day!

I woke up with a smile and bounced into the rest of the house with an attitude of "LIFE!"  I could just imagine the fun and memories we were going to have make today.  When I opened the curtain in the kitchen and looked outside I stopped in my tracks. The smile was melting downward. The bounce was a little less full of movement.  It was raining. My mind automatically went into a mode that the day was going to be with compromise.  Don't get me wrong, I am all for compromise!  I am one of the first in line for a happy-medium, a negotiator, mediator, person of resolve, but the rain was going to make this day kinda crappy now. I had great plans darn it!

As I stood at the large kitchen window I saw the rain starting to taper off.  This was great! The rain could stop and things will work out just as I planned. The skies were gray and it was resembling a early fall morning.  While the rain was lessening to a drizzle I noticed a bird flying from over the top of my house into the same spot along the fence as he gathered his needs for the nest he was preparing.  He grabbed what he needed and flew off!  Just a few moments later he was back again. He repeated this several times as I stood there watching him.  My mind went off of the rain and onto really looking at him.

The little stubby brown belly bird was doing what he needed to do.  It did not matter that it was raining outside.  He was not complaining he had a great day planned and its raining now.  Things will have to adjust some for your day.  "So What?" I know that is what that little guy was thinking, when he looked at me. "Then it happened"..

That little, cute, sweet sounding, brown belly bird, Whacked me upside my head.  Inside my own mind in reality, but it was still a good wack! I was not causing him any harm.  Why did he have to bother me?  That little bird that seemed to be doing what he needed to do  and was displaying such great character by doing what he needed to do!  He was getting the needs to make his nest.  Was it for a family? Himself? Was he helping his bird community? Was this part of teamwork? All of these thoughts were running through my mind.  Then it dawned on me...It did not matter why he was doing it. He was just doing it! What he had to do.  I was getting my pants in a bunch because of the weather.
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Big deal it was raining outside? It's just a drizzle, right? Check the weather report and see what its going to do and adapt.  The rain could stop! OK, bad move. Now, it is raining harder. As I watched the rain get stronger, that little guy kept on going. I thought to myself what a wonderful little soul he was. Moving forward with what he needed to do. I need to be grateful for just having the day. Having the roof over my head in the rain. I was getting bummed out because the rain would put a damper on the day. I had to "pick my battles."


Don't waste energy about silly stuff. It can suck you dry. It drains your motivation and appreciation. I was given the gift of having a "day."  The fact I could even spend the free time with my daughter was a blessing.  We are all so busy anymore.  The fact I even had a few dollars in the tough economy to do these things was a blessing.  I decided that I needed to choose my frustration wisely and not let it attach itself to my positive outlook, or it absolutely could ruin our whole day.


Guess what?  None of that mattered. My daughter got sick!  Yes, that's right!  She was heavin that stuff everywhere.  It was not pretty.  Bless her little heart.  So at the end of the day it didn't matter that it had rained at all.  If we would have went about our day with the inconvenience of rain it would have still been a day together, right?  It still had the same meaning and premise of the thoughts behind it.  Now we were bonding in a different way.  I held her hair when she needed me to and we did what we had to do...

Letting small things in life get under your skin will give you a rash that can cause you irritation throughout your whole day.  I don't really know of many people who enjoy rashes...

Have one of your best days and keep moving forward.  I want to hear from you.  Tell me what kinds of things made you stop and think about life in a better light at that moment.  It will challenge you to make the moments positive.  You will look for the beauty of the moment insted of the frustration.  What kind of beauty do you see out there today? What is doing on? What topics do you want to hear about? Do you have any questions for some advice?  We are here for each other...

Email me lifecoachurself@gmail.com