Sometimes Things Just Happen

Sometimes Things Just Happen

As I've been learning more the last few years, I tended to spout off the idea, that “Things happen for a reason, and for the best.” However lately I've changed my mind about the first half of that saying. Things sometimes happen for a reason, but sometimes they just happen. Whether the results can later be evaluated as “for the best” depends on how we react to, and deal with “what happened.” Everything that we experience can be a lesson for living a better life in the future. If something “bad” happens, we can curse our chronically bad luck, blame someone or something else, begin to worry about the next problem, or wonder what can be done to get on “the right track again.” I prefer to accept the situation, and take additional action if possible:

• Can something be done to change what's going on?

• Is there someone I need to apologize or makes amends to?

• What can I learn from this that will make me a better person?

• How can I turn a negative into something positive?

• Could my experience ever help someone else?

The last 6 months have been as challenging in some ways as any period in my life, but I've managed to wake up happy, hopeful, and extremely grateful. I know many of you reading this have had many more challenges, but the idea is still the same. Sometimes really bad things happen. If a loved one dies, we grieve and mourn, and accept that things aren't going to be the same for a period of time. We can be of service to others by asking for donations in the deceased's name to a charity or organization. Some have set up foundations or organizations to continue helping others in the loved one's name. How many people have been helped through donations to Alex's Lemonade Stand or the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure? The point of this message is acceptance. Acceptance coupled with positive action rather than resistance, will keep us healthier and happier as we move through the rest of our lives. The best is yet to come.