....PERCEPTION.....

People only see what they are prepared to see. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson We all have our own perception of life. But how clear is that perception? I think most people would agree that the more healthy, mature and insightful a person is, the clearer their perception. Because of various degrees of clarity people around us posess, it often makes it difficult to navigate relationships with those around us. Life experience is often needed to get a true sense of what others have gone through or to understand where they're coming from. I think people don't often even realize that their perception may not be the truth. When we are able to understand that our opinions or experiences may not be the only ones that matter, that maybe someone else has a better undestanding of the situation or that we may be perceiving something totally wrong, we are able to grow and find our own truth. When pride, resentment, feelings of victimization and obliviousness are no longer part of who we are, we choose to be our healthiest selves which is truly a gift to ourselves and those who love us. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now, let me digress by saying I am sooo tired of dealing with those that choose to remain ignorant, self indulgent and self appointed victims. We need to empower ourselves by being honest about our own "crap". No one is perfect, but so many are unwilling to show their true selves-they hide behind a wall of fabricated "happiness" or live in a fantasy world of "everything is fine". It is not until we find the courage and have the integrity to live an honest life that we will be able to truly have deep and meaningful relationships. I am so greatful for the very few relationships in my life that are "REAL" and I value them greatly.

STRESS....

"Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness." ~Richard Carlson

In the past two weeks I have had more than my fair share of stress. At both of the schools I work at the stress level has been working overtime! I've had to make four calls to CPS (Child protecive services) regarding parental abuse. I've dealt with administrative issues that have tied my hands to do what I feel is in the best interest of a child and the school, meet with parents who are concerned about their child's mental health-for very good reasons, go to meetings, including one at DCFS to determine the fate of children that are at the mercy of the system or their parents and had the overwhelming feeling that there's not enough time in the world to help all of the needy children I come in contact with on a daily basis. Added to all of this is the stress of dealing with teenagers! Teenagers in my home, at my workplace and through my calling at church (Young Women's). Don't get me wrong, normally I love this age group, they keep me guessing, remind me to have fun and make me laugh, but sometimes the "DRAMA" put's me over the edge! Fortunately, I have wonderful people in my life who let me vent. The Principal of my elementary school was feeling the same way so we had an hour long vent session that felt really good. Then, as usual, poor Jeff get's my angry venting, ranting and gnashing of teeth when I am fed up with certain people. Carla was next, she gets my emotional, whining, crazy ranting episodes. Thankfully, these wonderful people and others in my life are who keep me sane. They remind me that I'm "ok" and life will get better. They take the time to listen even when I'm delving into episodes of near insanity. Most importantly though, I know My Heavenly Father is there, no matter where I'm at, what I'm going through or how helpless I feel. I know that I am blessed, so very blessed-stress or not and I'm grateful.

Choices

The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live. ~Flora Whittemore As I lay awake early this morning thinking about this topic of "Choice" I realize as a parent what hard choices I must make for the benefit of one of my children. I have to allow the natural laws of free agency and natural consequences to take place so that life lessons and insightfulness are gained and hopefully a responsible, wise adult is formed. I've never been good with sitting back and patiently letting life "happen". I'm a take charge, make things happen kind of person that wants to take control and resolve things quickly. But, fortunately Heavenly Father knows what each one of us needs and he has placed some very wise people in my life that have helped me understand that I can't control nor should control every aspect of life, especially a life that's not my own. Everyone has their own timetable and needs to learn life lessons in their own way. For me, it boils down to faith-having faith that things will work out if I make the best choices I know how, faith that my child will remember what she has been taught and eventually have enough faith in herself to make good choices-even when they're hard. And most of all to sit back and let this child make her own choices so she can learn from the consequences. It's one of the hardest things I've had to do as a parent. Jeff and I have to constantly remind each other that it's ok to let her fail-she needs to either fail or succeed with the choices she makes. It's a daily learning experience to figure out how to support this child with love and enocuragement without rescuing her or taking away her opportunity to learn. When you see someone you love so much making decisions that often sabotage their future and even happiness, it's heartbreaking. But I have faith that one day (hopefully soon) the life experience gained from these poor choices will make her a stonger, smarter and more insightful young lady who will come to realize that we loved her enough to let her fail and in that failure learn the lessons she needed.