The other day an old friend and I sat in Carrows discussing life....and stuff. This wasn't an in-ordinary circumstance because we get together somewhat frequently and chat until the restaurant closes for the evening. But there were differences this time.
We are two card-carrying "Pollyanna's", "see the glass half-full", optimistic, happy people who always have smiles on our faces. The world will never see our woe! After a few moments of telling each other all the GOOD news in our lives we tenderly edged into the "not so blessed" moments. As is our nature we would pull it back just as quickly trying to gulp our words back into our mouths. Wouldn't want a cloud over our heads, would we?
We came up with an analogy. (My kids know how much I love analogies.)
We have a pile of pooh, with an awful odor, but never mind we immediately throw a nice sod blanket over it, and then plant beautiful flowers on top. Now we don't have to acknowledge our pile of pooh, and no one else has to see it either.
We laughed and laughed when we saw our problems as a pile of pooh, and our ability to rapidly decorate and cover up. It was really liberating. Now we are trying to recognize the pooh for what it is and remove it, shovel by shovel, before we beautify the area.
It's not that I worry what other people will think of me that makes me cover things up, it's that I don't want to see them myself. Whether from my nature, or my childhood, or out of my faith I have always been good at seeing the "brighter" side. My mottos are "Bloom where you're planted." "If you're given lemons, make lemonade." "Make an attitude adjustment." "Look at things from a different perspective." "See the glass half full". "Count your blessings". I'm extremely good at counting my blessings...they are so plentiful....and I feel ungrateful if I whine, or grumble a bit. But seriously folks I do have a "pile of pooh" that is gets pretty stinky in spite of my efforts to plant beautiful flowers. When I told Jimmy about my analogy he said "Flowers planted on pooh are pretty stinky".
So, my friend and I have challenged each other to acknowledge the pile of pooh, see what it's made of, feel it, smell it, remove it and then plant beautiful flowers so everything will be as God created it!
Trosper Family 2016
5 comments:
Actually, the prettiest and healthiest flowers grow in pooh. For in the pooh lies the nutrients they need to bloom. Adversity is a good thing, it is just hard to appreciate when you are in the middle of experiencing it.
No, it isn't hard to appreciate it if you don't notice it. I plant flowers on the adversity before I notice it, or anyone else does. This blog is helping me, or trying to help me, uncover the pooh, so I can appreciate the growth that comes from it! Yes? Yes!
I love you so much. Thank YOU for my pretty flowers. They and you two are wonderful!
You are such a great writer. Now I know where Marque gets it from. Happy Mother's Day. I am enjoying a quiet day updating my blog and reading others. I really enjoyed your analogy. I think we all tend to do that.
Hi Leslie-
Thank you for commenting on our blog. It was nice to hear from you. We just visited my parents last weekend for my mom's birthday. We are doing good and even updated the blog a little since you last read it for an update--but being friends with my mom you probably already knew all of this! Carl and Lora and the "clan"--Oh, and YES, baby #7 is due July 9 and will probably be named Cora.
Lora and Carl,
It was so good to look at your blog and I have actually been looking at it frequently to see what you have added. I'm always amazed that you have had time to do anything with your busy lives. Oh my goodness!
I was just thinking about your Mom's birthday, and then whoosh! it flew out of my brain on the right day. (It's heck getting old) It was so good to see them when your Dad did our taxes, but we didn't go out to dinner like we usually do. Promised we would get together soon though. They came to my birthday party in Oct (60th) and gave me an awesome vintage 1947 car. I love your folks!
Seven kids!!! Wow!!! Where did the name Cora come from? I love it, that was my aunt's name. Did you know I am the oldest of 7? I loved being part of a large family. I wanted lots of kids myself.
It's so good hearing from you.
Les
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