I heard a story yesterday that I thought was wonderful and so I am putting it down for future reference.
There was an older woman that woke up one morning and she looked in the mirror and discovered that she only had three hairs. She thought to herself, I'll braid my hair today and decided it was going to be a good day and it was.
The next day she woke up and looked in the mirror and saw that she had two hairs. Well, she thought, I'll part my hair right down the middle and decided it was going to be a good day and it was.
The next day she woke up and looked in the mirror again, saw she had only one hair and thought, great, I'll wear my hair in a ponytail. She decided it was going to be a great day and it was.
She woke up again and looked in the mirror and saw that she had no hair. Wow, she thought, I don't have to fix my hair today! She decided it was going to be a great day and it was.
Moral of the story, she decided it was going to be a good day. I think a positive attitude is so important in how we approach life and what we get out of it. When I was younger I was an idealist. Everything was supposed to be just so. I was a perfectionist in some ways and that is a hard way to live your life. I used to compare myself to every one else and of course, came up on the short end of the stick. It took me almost forty years, and that is way too long by the way, to decide that maybe I was alright. I want my children and grandchildren to learn from me. Who you are is enough, so long as you are working on becoming your best self. Love yourself, be positive, find the joy in everyday living.
I sit here now, a bit droopy in many places, :) thinning hair, not a flat stomach, and many other things, but I probably love myself more now that I ever have! It is actually quite liberating.............to think you are okay.
I was thinking about my Grandmother Malone at the temple the other day. She had a rough life, so much sorrow, and yet I don't think I ever saw her "down" or complaining about her lot in life. My memories of her were always a smile on her face, kind words for everyone, and a genuinely good person. I want to be like her.
I love the quote by President Hinckley and I will have to find the exact quote and put it in, but for today, it goes something like this. If you think life is supposed to be fair, you are in for a great disappointment. Life isn't fair. It is much like an old time train ride. There are beautiful vistas, lush green views, and thrilling peaks, but there are also valleys, smoke, cinders and ash that get in your eyes. The trick is to enjoy the journey and be grateful for the ride.
As I look back over my life I see that this is so. I also realize that I am extremely grateful for the journey.
