I am learning that within our own imperfections we find the greatest truths, unconditional love, appreciation and a mirror of who we really hope to be on the inside on the good and Bad days. – Jennifer Jo Clark Singleton
We all have those times in life were we just have to do it. There is a reason why that slogan is such a hit. It is especially appropriate after a tragedy or major setback in life. When we feel hopeless, defeated, hurt, scared, sad, depressed, discourage, unsure…we just have to get up and do it.
I remember a lesson I learned from my mother. She had a very bad back and suffered terrible chronic pain. She was extremely strong willed though and worked through it. The pain would put most people in bed…and I remember asking her why she didn’t just take a break or lie down? With a smile and that common sense way of thinking for which she was famous, she told me that her back was going to hurt whether she got up or not, so she might as get up, and get busy. Wow. Now that she is no longer with us, I want to carry her on lessons of strength and endurance in the face of hard time.
The fact is that we will probably still feel scared, discouraged, sad, or whatever, but we just have to do it anyway. At some point you have to decide to reach deep down, where the soul meets the mind, down where each heartbeat mingles with our breath, and pull ourselves up. It’s going to hurt anyway, so we might as well just do it.
And so it goes. There is much to do at this moment. So much change, heartache, work, love, fear, truth, honor, sadness, and life. Adjusting to having an aging parent in the house, making sure he has everything he needs and wants, packing and organizing two moves, working a full time job, trying to cook, clean and do everyday things, keeping up with friends and family… I have no idea how I am going to do it, but I just have to, because failure is not an option.
But I know I can do it, because my mother could do anything, and I am my mother’s daughter. The pity party is over – and that is another thing she taught me. Have a pity party, but just make sure it doesn’t last too long. Because life and it’s demands do not stop just because you are having a bad day, or week, or month or even year. So you better figure it out.
I can hear her voice, gently whispering to me, as I get up in the morning. She knows I can do it. I will not be perfect at this. I will stumble, fall and even fail sometimes, no matter how hard I try. And in my imperfections, I have found this truth. In her imperfections I have found that unconditional love and faith. I have found that mirror of who I am now and who I want to be on the good and bad days. And I am blessed to have a wonderful people around me who will stand by firm. They are my roots.
We can also choose in what spirit in which we move forward. We can choose to rise above the drama and pain, or let it drag us down. We can choose to do things with a loving and cheerful heart, or we can be bitter and angry. I choose the former in both sets. Dolly Parton Sings in her hit Hard Candy Christmas “I’m barely getting through tomorrow/But still I won’t let/Sorrow get me way down/Me, I’ll be just fine and dandy.” And I will be just fine.
I think that starts with acceptance. It is going to be hard. It is going to test my limits and strength. But’s it’s going to hurt anyway so I might as well get up and get busy. Things are going to be unbalanced right now, so I will just grab what time for myself that I can, and just get through the rest. Maybe the key is finding the unbalance you can live with temporarily. And the bad times are always temporary; it won’t be like this six months from now, a year from now, ten years from now.
You can pack and cry at the same time; you can move mountains while still wounded. You just have to do it. And so I will. How…I am not sure. I guess we will figure that out along the way. And in my imperfections I will find life.
Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick, and pull yourself together. – Elizabeth Taylor
AdaLamar's Blog 