CHAPTER 1
LIVING INTENTIONALLY
One Christmas I wrote my traditional letter. I raved about our many blessings, my great kids, good memories, fun (and free) activities we enjoyed together, and the numerous personal growth opportunities of “a wonderful year.” I read it to my dear friend, Kathy, who had stood by me the wholetime.
My BFF looked at me dumbfounded. “Are you kidding me? You had the worst yearever!”
I was shocked! Why would she say that? We’d been so blessed. Then she reminded me of just afew incidents of the previous twelve months, suchas:
- I had gone through a complicated divorce when my husband drained our bank accounts and was institutionalized after a total mentalbreakdown.
- My children and I were homeless for a time and faced significant financialchallenges.
- We lost nearly all our possessions in a terrible flood, followed by a windstorm (that swept our drying belongings to Oz), while I hobbled on crutches recovering from a painfulaccident.
- Now we were renting, but the kids and I slept and sat on the floor because we didn’t have anyfurniture.
- I had been robbed at gunpoint three times on my night job at a conveniencestore.
- We were in desperate financial difficulties and food and clothing for my growing kids was an ongoing battle. Some days, welost.
- A doctor informed me my seven-year-old daughter faced probable death, due to a kidneyissue.
- My children had received numerous stitches required from several, differentaccidents.
- My daughter had been hospitalized with a serious concussion after a fall on theice.
- We experienced a terrifying fire in our apartment, scorching my sleeping daughter’s pillow as I scooped her up and away from the flames just intime.
All of this and more in twelve months. Yet, I had viewed it as a wonderful year. Intentionally aware, I centered on the good events and experiences. We had found a temporary place to live in a miraculous way: housesitting that provided a small income and supplied food for us. What joy! It sheltered us while I struggled to get back on my feet after an extremely difficult, unexpected, and life-changing catastrophe (that’s a long story). My daughter lived through another dire prediction. We were saved from a house fire by divine intervention, and we quickly extinguished the flames. How could I not notice the many lovely wonders inlife?
Our perceptions are generated by how we choose to interpret circumstances. Did I see the year as difficult because we were homeless, or as a blessed and wonderful year because we found a place to live? While keeping all the lessons learned, in association with gratitude for the positive outcomes in our life, my focus on the good colored my world lovely. Also, a naturally optimistic mindset influenced my thoughts, which I control. Fortunate to be born with a happy outlook, my continuous efforts to be aware of thoughts and think that life is grand, made it true forme.
Each thought we entertain adds to how our hearts and souls view everything we see, hear, and experience. I try to choose positive, healthy thoughts but sometimes negative, ugly, unkind, or unhealthy ones creep into my mind. But I am The Boss of My Thinker! I made those original thoughts, and I can change them. My thoughts are influenced by past experiences, reading, movies, conversations, or observations—even at a subconsciouslevel.
I ask challenging questions when a thought occurs that could lead me down dark roads. Such as ‘Is this true?’ or ‘Does this idea help or hurt?’ or ‘Does this concept reflect who my Creed says I am (more about that later)?’ or ‘Is this the way I
