I DID NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS!
How many times in our lives have we said, “I did not sign up for this!” The adversity that we all face often come completely unexpectedly, stay longer than we hope, and have twists and turns that we cannot control. There are many things in our lives that we have had to adapt to and have roles reversed as we have learned to accommodate to Nate’s paralysis.
Today I climbed into our friend’s Bobcat and taught myself how to grade our backyard, scoop up rocks, and create berms. I was so grateful for the blessing to be able to use this equipment that made our enormous job seem more doable. As I lifted multiple loads of weeds and dirt and dumped them into piles, each time completely covering myself in a thick skin of dirt, the thought came into my mind, “I did not sign up for this.” This thought played over and over in my mind and I could see flash backs to different moments in my life that I have felt this exact feeling.
I felt impressed to share this as I know all of us go through trials that “we did not sign up for.” You don’t sign up for debilitating pain. You don’t sign up for a crumbling marriage. You don’t sign up for the loss of a family member. You don’t sign up for a life-long illness. You don’t sign up for financial instability. You don’t sign up for a child with disabilities. You don’t sign up for loosing a job. You don’t sign up for an abusive relationship. All of these challenges test us in different ways and vary in severity, but can leave you feeling hopeless or longing for a different path.
I have found a few ways that have helped me get through the tough times and to improve my outlook.
1. Keep moving- you must have progress! By putting one foot in front of the other, you are telling yourself that you are worth it, you will fight for the life you want, and the movement will create momentum to open up options and new situations.
2. Find joy in the little things of life. They are there, sometimes we just have to look harder and acknowledge them.
3. Know that God created us with the tools we need to get through these trials. We have more strength than we believe.
4. Surround yourself with friends and family that will give you positive encouragement and love.
Be kind to yourself and others! The things we didn’t “sign up for” will create our greatest strengths and provide us with opportunities to grow into the lives we ultimately are fighting for. Love you all! Hope today is amazing! HeatherIMG_2361