Thank you Michelle C. for sharing this great bit of insight…
For most of us, life is fairly hectic and squeezing in time for chores such as wiping fingerprints from the microwave handle and the refrigerator door can become very frustrating. As Michelle pointed out, she was the only one who would take the time to get a towel and wipe down the appliances. And this frustration can make it easy to wish that there would be no more rouge fingerprints to remove. But at that point, Michelle was blessed with an epiphany. All of these fingerprints were being made by the people who are most important in her life. These are signs to remind her that her family is right here with her each and every day.
Suddenly, the thought of no more fingerprints made her very sad. It would mean that she was no longer surrounded by her loving family. From that moment on, she decided to see the fingerprints, and the task of removing them, as something to treasure. Now they are a reminder that she is fortunate enough to have a house full of loved ones and that is what she chooses to focus on. She is choosing to see the good.
I’m certain that many people have their own version of this story to tell. We have all wished for something only to later understand that our wish was not really what we wanted at all. Cleaning the house is not a fun job but it needs to be done. Instead of thinking about all of the other “fun” things that I could be doing, I try to focus on how fortunate I am to have a home. There are many folks who are forced to live day to day with no shelter and nothing to call their own. I never want to forget to be thankful for my home and all that I have in my life keeping me comfortable and secure. In addition, I also never want to take for granted the fact that I am able to complete these tasks myself. Again, there are many folks who only wish that they had the energy or ability to vacuum and clean. Many people are facing health challenges or illnesses and would love to be able to cook, clean and go to work rather than endure painful treatment or a long hospital stay.
In the end, there are always going to be tasks which we would rather not do but, at those times it is important to understand that being able to do them is something to be thankful for as well. There is always a good aspect to everything that we must undertake and it is our responsibility to look for it and appreciate it. Thank you Michelle C. for sharing this valuable lesson and reminding me that having chores is really something to be thankful for.
it seems that many people are searching for something better, whether to feel better or have a better life. Feeling good or bad are personal perceptions. We hear catch phrases and sound bytes quite often, but too often, they ring hollow. Feeling good or bad is a choice (here’s another) that we are constantly making. What helps in my personal experience is to accept that some people may dislike me, may be impatient ,or otherwise choose to behave in an aggressive manner. This has nothing to do with me. My response makes me who I am. Positive and negative are two ends of the same stick, when we realize this our eyes begin to open and we find things that will help us on our journey.