Recently, I was talking to a few of my friends, and it came up that one of them is a huge inspiration to the rest of us. She looked surprised by this statement. My friend has a child with very complex health issues and developmental delays. We all have taken notice that our friend seems to wake up every morning in bright spirits, is generally optimistic, and has loving concern for her friends and family. It’s not to say that she doesn’t have super hard days, hours, and minutes…certainly there is frustration, disappointment and fear in her life, but she seems to be able to appreciate the good and positive things and not let these negative parts take over.
When I asked how she does it, she looked boggled. She said she didn’t really know, but here are a few things I know that she does that she feels make a difference in her life.
1) My friend believes in prayer. I won’t go into her religion, and I know this one isn’t for everyone, but she finds comfort in prayer.
2) She goes to yoga frequently and says that it makes a world of difference in her day.
3) She has found a good group of friends who deeply care about her well-being even though we cannot help her with any of her challenges.
4) She has a strong relationship with her family even though they live far away.
5) She eats healthfully and takes care of her body.
In the new year, I am going to work very hard to count my blessings and try to incorporate several of the things my girlfriend does. There are plenty of reasons to be happy and thankful if we look for them and practice habits that can help make us happier.
What will you do more of for yourself in the coming year?
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