You Lose Some January 18, 2015

There are some pretty disappointed people in my neck of the woods tonight. High expectations, excitement and enthusiasm abounded this afternoon as our dear Green Bay Packers battled the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game. The mission? To make it to the Superbowl.

It was a close game, filled with its share of exciting moments and ups and downs. Going into halftime, it seemed like the Packers were destined for a win. But a whole lot of nervous pacing, nail biting, almost-heart attacks, and anxious eating later, it was all over. By no fault but their own, the Packers will not be making the journey to the proudest game in football this year. Instead, the season has ended. 

I don’t know much about these things, but what I do know very well is the emotional atmosphere of my forever family. So its a little tough not to be sad with them as they mourn the loss of a good game and come to terms with the end of an entertaining season. But I’m staying strong this time around. I will not let the negative energy get to me. It stops here.

Instead, I can’t help but think about all the things in life that don’t go quite right. From the little things, like when you search high and low for something valuable and can’t find it. To the big things, like when something truly traumatic happens that you may never fully recover from. It’s bound to happen. Just as we are all blessed with those days when the sun shines brightly and the birds provide a gentle soundtrack to the day filled with all things happy. Those days are winners that we cherish and need to pause to appreciate fully.

Those are the days that get us through those days filled with nothing but anxiety, worry and disappointment. Because we all lose some from time to time. But this too shall pass. The sun will shine and the birds will sing and peace will be restored to the world again soon enough.

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Forgive and Forget January 5, 2015

It was worse than I thought. Way worse. True to form, it seems to me that negativity spread like wildfire today as it has a way of doing if we let it. I’m sure it didn’t help that we are experiencing record low temperatures around here (with wind chills in the -30 degree range, whatever that means). And I think that thing called work had a lot to do with it as well.

Regardless of the reason, it seems to me like today is a day where more than one person I care about just wants to put behind them. Individual circumstances vary, but I get the impression that tomorrow can’t come soon enough.

Dear aunt Morgan’s car wouldn’t start. My grandma slipped on some ice getting her mail and hurt her knee. My mom’s friend Mel had an abnormally challenging day. Work was generally impossible for everyone I encountered.

Around here, dad had a generally awful day. And mom spent a lot of time on the phone while trying to simultaneously tend to a very whiny dear baby Carter. I knew it was worse than usual when she lost her temper and shouted at him to shut up. It isn’t like her to yell at him like that, and the tone of her voice sent even me into a panic as I ran off into the nearest corner.

The breaking point. From the ground up, it looks different for everyone. I saw mom’s today and it wasn’t pretty. But something tells me she wasn’t alone. She isn’t alone. It happens to everyone from time to time for a variety of reasons.

And today I think I found the antidote. Because it was worse than I thought. Going back to reality wasn’t just tough for my dad as I feared it would be, but for a lot of people I care about. So when it happened later this afternoon, I felt my heart leap out of my chest with joy.

He forgave her. Even though the look in his eyes when mom hollered at him was one of surprised terror, when Carter woke up from his afternoon nap a couple hours later, all was forgiven and forgotten. I knew it for sure because when she went to get him out of his crib, he was even happier to see her than usual. He was standing there to greet her, and when she opened the door he literally giggled with glee to the point where his smile was making him shake with happiness. Mom hasn’t laughed so hard in days.

It reminded me it is possible to forgive and forget more than just people. Days are awful sometimes. And they happen to all of us. But there is always tomorrow, so why not forgive today?