Day 2,969

Growth:

We really get to know a lot about ourselves and other people when we are under pressure. When the stakes go up it becomes more difficult for us to contain emotions – for better or worse. Today was a reminder that while I can easily see that in others they (and I) can see it in myself as well. Be a better me all the time, then my reaction under pressure will be the me I am all the time anyways.

Appreciation:

I’ve written about this general concept often, but it bears repeating today. I am grateful for remembering that I can only control what I can control – and this includes controlling where I focus my energy and emotion. While I was all kinds of frustrated over a specific event I reminded myself to let it go and move on… after wallowing in it for a while. As the moments (hours) ticked away I realized more and more clearly that I was allowing my emotional response dictate the lens through which I was seeing the day rather than acknowledging the emotion, granting myself grace, and moving on right away. My response was far from ideal, it took me longer than I would like to have arrived at the right place, but I’m grateful for finally arriving at the right place nonetheless.

I cannot control what happens to me, how others respond, or what unexpected challenges I will face in the day. I can choose how I respond, how I have awareness of the situation and my emotion, and how quickly I move forward.

Today I am grateful for the opportunity to put in more reps, to keep putting in the practice, and for the awareness to pause and clearly see the gap between who I am and who I am called to be.

Presence:

Okay, easy winner today! Becky and I saw an astoundingly long shooting star this morning glide across the sky right under Orion’s feet while we were out for our run this morning! Such a welcome surprise while we were outside with Leia before the rest of the world was waking up. Becky saw a second one as well a little while later. The unceasing beauty of Creation!

Thanks!!!