Turning Into the Butterfly



“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.”

Why did I not know this before turning 50? How could I have missed such an important lesson? It seems that I might have lived my life completely different if I had been more aware. I certainly would have given my children different advice during those hard times when life seemed to knock them down. I would not have tried to soften the blow so much, knowing that each event would grow them to another level. Now, I will try hard to be their example. I will attempt to go into each uncomfortable situation with the idea that I have something to learn from it.

I wonder if this is the reason why we have such a large percentage of our population on depression medication. Are we afraid to take the hard road? Are we hesitant to do the difficult work, looking inside ourselves for the answers? Media bombards us daily with the message that we "deserve" to be happy, to feel good, to be healthy.  It's a fairy tale and it has an unhappy ending. I bought the message lock, stock and barrel. When all was not well, as it frequently was, a great discontentment grew inside me and I ran around trying to make it better. Feeling all was lost if I did not fix the problems.  I was not the beneficiary of the fairytale.  No more! There are no fairy tales. When a friend or acquaintance tries to convince you of how wonderfully perfect their life is, it's really them trying to convince themselves. I know....I was there.

I look forward to the growth I will experience in the future. Attempting to bare the hard times with a new wonder; asking myself where will I be when I get through this? With my kids, I will try hard to be a healthy example, but this is their own lesson to learn, in their own time.

Meanwhile, I will walk through this life trying to be kind to others. I hope you will too. 

Comments

  1. Laura Gross SmithDecember 13, 2014 at 10:05 AM

    Great quote. I know for me, when I am ticked off at the world and feeling stuck, it is the perfect time for me to change something that I have control of, like my attitude. The other day I was yelling at God, because I was tired of commuting, my body was sore and I was drained after a long day of work and traveling. So now I know, I would like fulfilling work, just closer to home. Today I can begin to look for that, at least take a small step, search one website, etc. This stuff is so hard sometimes...

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