When Life Hands You Lemons

Sometimes life requires you to do hard things, like write a 10 page paper, or work two jobs, or only eat one piece of cake when you really want two (or maybe even three). Wednesday night I had to do something that I didn't think was going to be hard at all, but it ended up being one of the hardest things I've done in a while... and it sucked.

Have you seen the Arrested Development episode where every time something bad happens to one of the characters, they walk around like Charlie Brown? (side note:  if you don't know Arrested Development is, stop reading, click here, and go educate yourself. What do you live under a rock?). That's how I felt, so basically I spent half my day looking like this:

I talked to my mom on the phone to try and figure out why I was being such a big baby about everything. I knew my answer and I knew I was making the right choice, so why laze around all day and pout? I had other things I needed to be doing... like homework, or eating cake. 

She suggested that at the moment I was feeling a little bit like I was backed into a corner. The way I saw it, all of my choices had been made for me; the outcomes were inevitable. That wasn't necessarily true. I was just choosing the options that were less 'fun', but would be better for me in the long run (e.g. to do homework or not to do homework). In other words, I was growing up.... and it sucked. I was learning about responsibility and that long term happiness far outweighs instant gratification. 

So what was the solution? Well, for me I was feeling a lack of progress. Although I was learning essential adulthood lessons, I needed to feel as if progressing right at that moment as well. I sat down with my mom and devised a list of things that needed to be done this weekend. We decided that I would take a few things a day, starting with the smaller tasks, complete them and then reward myself with, say, my ward's Nerf gun war activity (which, in case you were wondering, was awesome). It was really helpful. It put my list of tasks into perspective a really helped me feel like I was achieving something (which I was) while also feeling like I wasn't starving myself of being social.

Another solution was remembering that 'it is better to look up'. In the October 2011 General Conference, Carl B. Cook gave a talk with that very title. It's one of my favorite talks to this day. 

In his talk he quotes Mosiah 4:9 which reminds us to "Believe in God; believe that he is...". How wonderful is it that we have a God, a Father in Heaven, who loves us dearly, and who, among the infinite number of things in this universe, know each and every one of us by name. 

Elder Cook ask us the question: "Why is it a challenge to constantly look up in our lives?" Do we lack faith, trust, hope? I think it's a combination of the three. I know that I struggle most with trusting in the Lord, and even trusting in myself. But that's why we're here, isn't it? At least, that's why I believe we're here. To learn to have those things. To trust God, and to know he loves you.

In a talk I mentioned a few posts ago, President Uchtdorf mentions this: 

"[W]herever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love. Just think of it: You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious Being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time! He who created and knows the stars knows you and your name—you are the [children] of His kingdom..."

How grateful I am to know that.

On a more secular note, I think there's still something to gain from these talks. It may not be God you're looking up to. Maybe it's looking up to that great vacation you have coming up in a few months, or that A+ you got on a paper, or even coming home to that last slice of chocolate cake after a long day. Find something to 'look up' to; find something to be grateful for. I promise you have at least one thing you can think of; I have many.

I know that just bringing a little bit happiness into you life makes living it easier. You don't have to throw up rainbows and unicorns on everyone you meet, but try smiling at a stranger, holding open the door for an elderly woman or a not so elderly woman or even a man. Go of your way to make someones day a little bit better and soon yours will follow suit.

I'd like to try something new. Of the few people who read this, will you share with me your ways to get over those days you find yourself in a 'funk'? Do you dance around your kitchen in your PJs? (I do.) Do you go for a run to clear your head? Listen to loud music? Share, please! I'd love to know what you think :)