A while back, when I was in a situation that I was not particularly thrilled with I said, “That usually doesn’t happen. Why did it happen this time?” This is a phrase I had been saying (or at least thinking) all my life. One day when I said the statement aloud, my husband said, “Well, you should be thankful that it doesn’t usually happen.”

Believe it or not, it actually took several years for the meaning of that statement to sink in. Instead of looking at the few times things are difficult for me and getting frustrated, I should be thankful for all those times when things are going well!

I must admit that this was a whole new perspective for me. Although I did not know it until recently, I have always had the tendency to look at the negative. I could take a good situation and make it sound awful, without even realizing it!! It was after this new perspective sank in that I was able to begin changing my negative perspective on life.

It is because of this new-found knowledge about myself and the way I view life that leads me to say that life is not worth living if there is no stress. Stress, for me, is usually caused by the most precious things to me. Things like my faith, my family, and my friends (wow……accidentally alliterated!). These things are worth getting stressed over. A stressful life with them is better, WAY better, than a peaceful life without them (if that is even possible).

Now all I have to do is remember this next time I am in the midst a stressful moment. Instead of getting stressed during those moments when all of my children are talking at once and expecting me to hear and understand them without anyone repeating a sentence, I should stop, take a deep breath, and say, “Praise the Lord that God gave me all these wonderful blessings!” Then I can sit down and teach my children conversation skills, such as waiting your turn to speak. 🙂

Note: This is my submission for the “What I learned from” group writing project over at Middle Zone Musings.