I’m laying in bed tonight just thinking about how lucky I am. Sometimes I don’t focus enough on the positive things in my life and that’s not a good thing. I get that it’s important to be realistic and I tend to be a realist but at the same time, perspective is really important also.
I was in a weird mood for part of the day and I’m not really sure why. I mentioned eariler that I thinks it’s combination of being worn out and a lack of sleep. Not being able to workout hasn’t been doing me any favors either. That being said, I’ve since pulled myself out of the funk I was in and I’m feeling great.
Everyone is in bed and I’m winding down for the night myself.
My mind is very clear right now and I recognize that I’m an incredibly lucky man. I have amazing children, who are the center of my universe. I also have people, who’s presence in my life, makes me a better person. I have truly amazing family and friends who love and accept me – for me, despite all my flaws.
I have this awesome platform that I’ve been able to build from the ground up. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing but I’m figuring it out as I go. I’m so lucky to be able to work from home, provide for my family, and help people around the globe. It’s been a journey to get here and it wasn’t easy but the opportunitues I have in front of me are potentially life changing if I play my cards right. I’m unbelievably lucky to be where I am, and sometimes I forget that.
I’m laying here thinking about the people in my life and how much they mean to me. I feel so grateful because I don’t feel isolated or alone anymore. I feel hopeful and optimistic. I see a bright future in front of me. I want to soak up every moment and make every memory I can as I move toward that future.
I suppose the whole point of me sharing this is to remind all of you that it’s easy to lose sight of what matters, especially when life gets challenging. We often find ourselves overwhelmed, exhausted, frustrated, and scared. I want to encourage you all to spend some time counting your blessings. I know that sounds super cliché but it can help provide much needed perspective in your darker moments.
You’re so right, Rob! Glad you have been able to take this moment to feel good, to enjoy a job well done; build on it and keep on keeping on. No-one can make you give up: your mission is to keep on trying and if you do that, then no matter what happens, you can look yourself in the eye and say, “I did my utmost”.
I’ve often noticed that even when things are tough, we can find reasons to be thankful, and there’ll always be someone who seems worse off: someone who doesn’t have your amazing kids, for example. When you start to think of how it is for someone else, and how to help them, that’s when you know you’re doing some things (and possibly a lot of them) right.
I think you’re right to note when you haven’t slept well or are otherwise tired because sleep is a great giver of perspective. Always question your decisions made when you’re tired, and talk things over with a friend if you’re feeling swamped. I hope also that your kids are becoming capable of giving you some snatches of time-out when you need it – that will help both them and you!
And I’m with you on the working out: that’s another recalibration opportunity. I’ve been through similar stresses (for utterly different reasons) and feel I’m building back resilience ready for the next time it get drained. Exercise has been a big part of that. Most of my life I’ve had bucketfuls of resilience because I was lucky to have resources to meet the challenges. If you have a good support network, or have built your own good habits to keep yourself healthy in body & mind, you keep that resilience. If your resilience is getting drained through repeated withdrawals from what you’ve banked, take care…
Eg when someone you rely on for practical or even moral support is unavailable, or if your own energy banks are drained, you know you need to take extra care and pay attention to extra bolstering measures, whatever those may be; eg don’t skimp on the exercise; make sure you take some time to watch local wildlife or be outdoors doing human things like tending, pruning, appreciating and wondering; take 5 minute timeouts; stretch…these have all helped me gain control of myself when I felt at the end of my tether. I hope you have some friends that you can rely on because in you they surely have a great rock.
Sleep well and look forward to the good work you can do when you wake!