Our Story

We all have a story.  Last night, we had some old friends over for dinner.  They are friends that we have been through just married times, to new babies times all the way through college kids and 21st birthdays.  After we got through the pleasantries...we told the kids stories.  "Remember when"...we started..."when you ran away to our house when you were 4?" we said to the eldest one.  "Or remember the picture of you two kissing that I had on my refrigerator...where is that?"  My oldest son laughed  and said, "Oh, I was sure we would hear that one again."  It went on and on.  We always laugh at the same stories and find comfort from hearing them.  These stories are woven into my story...my life. 

I used to think that I didn't have a whole lot to do with the story...I was powerless and had to let my life unfold as it did with me reacting to situations as I was hit with them.

I am understanding as I get older that I want my story to be my choices and my reactions to things from here... I understand that while I have no power to change my story of the past, I do have some power to change the story today.  Not other people's behavior in the story but how I react to those behaviors...  how I respond to what they do and say because of their stories. 

Like yesterday...I could have been alot of things.  I could have been embarrased, mad at the folks for reacting to my choice of behavior or defiant, "who are they...."  But I made a choice...I live with it and go on. 

I woke up this morning and the kitchen was a disaster.  We had 10 eating dinner, dessert, drinks and there was dishes scattered through the house.  I looked around and thought..."What a nice night with our friends...we need to do that more often" instead of  "what a freakin' mess and I am the one to clean it up".  That thought process was a choice.  It was not a hard choice to make today but I have to say...last  year at this time...I would have been mad for the whole weekend at my kids and husband for not thinking to help me clean up.
This morning, I thought, the heck with it...if I can do it, I will or I will leave it for later...it is not life and death.  It is not worth it to be mad all weekend...

I put on my Coldplay station on pandora radio, poured my coffee.  I wandered around and then got started.  After about 30 minutes, the leaves were out of the table, it was wiped down and it looked back to normal...              


Then I moved to the kitchen sink and counters...it took me a few minutes to get rolling but then the finshed product is below...


Not too bad..and now to move on the the fun stuff...a day with the Queen. 

Stories, reactions, choices...when I step out of the car into a mud puddle, in my nicest shoes...what choice do I make...I can't change the muddy step...but the reaction...I can. 

"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it"
-sign at a gas station

We'll tawk tommorrow,
I love you all,
Terry

Comments

Lo said…
Yes, yes, yes. So glad you have evolved to that point. (you are a very advanced soul). Congratulations.

I have many moments of backsliding, but mostly I am able to function at your level.....and ain't it a pleasure? !!

Love 'ya.
Elizabeth said…
Great advice -- it's so easy to live the majority of the time in that 10%!
Ms. Moon said…
Girlfriend- how are you so wise? Damn.

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