A thought from Helen Keller

“A happy life consists not in the absence, but in the mastery of hardships.” ~ Helen Keller

Helen Keller was an amazing woman.  Despite the "hardships" that were dealt to her, she pushed on with her life.  I'm sure she had her moments when she thought she couldn't continue.  We all have those moments.  Even though she could not see or hear the world around her, she lived her life with happiness and appreciation for what she did have. And thank goodness she did!  She made such an amazing contribution to this world!  Her writing, her political activism, etc.  And thank goodness for Anne Sullivan who stood by her for all those years!!

It is amazing what we can accomplish with the love and support of our family and friends.  Even extreme life stressors can be overcome!

Stressors and hardships come in all shapes and sizes.  From the little things like running out of milk after you put cereal in a bowl to the big things like a death in the family.  How we handle these stressors determines what effect they have on our lives.  Do we let the emotional stress build up, or do we face it head on?  Do we explore our stress and find ways to make it better, or do we just think there is no hope in things getting better?

School has been stressful. Not just on me, but on the family as well.  I spend many hours seated at my desk working on studies.  "Mom!  All you do is school!"  That makes me feel guilty and selfish for pursuing my life goal.  So what do I do to balance?  I step away from the studies and decide what is more important: reading a textbook chapter word for word or spending a little extra time with the family?  No matter what I am doing with my life, my family will always come first!  I need them to be happy so I can be happy.

Life is also stressful right now in other respects best left undisclosed here.  But we will prevail!  Despite how gloomy life  may look, there is a clearing sky and a rainbow coming.  It is important for all to remember that.  No matter how bad life looks, how bad the hardships (real or conceived) may get, things will get better.  Chin up and greet tomorrow with a smile. :)

I KNOW that Helen was right.  Hardships make us stronger because they challenge us to our core.  Knowing we can overcome the little stuff makes us more confident that we can overcome the big stuff.  Get out there and conquer a mole hill!

26 months till graduation!!

XOXO ~Sabrina