Looking at What We Have

Sometimes, frustration and depression come because we look at what we wish we had and not on what we do have.

As I was reading an article entitled "Education Was Our Answer" by Sheralyn Mitchell (Ensign, April 2009, 28-31), I came across this quote:

"Instead of dwelling on what I wish my circumstances were, which only leads to frustration, I try to focus on how blessed I feel..."

I realized that many times I focus on how I want my life to be instead of what it is. I wish I could go back in time and make different choices so that today's results would be different and better.

What I fail to realize is that there is no guarantee that if I had made a different choice my life would be different and better.

I wish I had made the choice to move back close to my parents, but I did not. Instead of dwelling on the "what if" I need to look at "what is."

Here are my "what is"

I am 5,000 miles away from my parents, but they are heatlhy and I have the blessing to talk with them every week. I can talk with them every day, if I were to choose to do so.

I am a single parent struggling to help my children, bring home enough money to take care of the family, and take care of the house. However, I am blessed to always have, somehow, enough money to take care of our needs, to have a house of our own, and, above all, to have children to love and care for.

So, here is the final thought of the day

Let go of "what if" and look at "what is."

Find the rainbow known as blessing in all things

And you'll find life to be on the upswing!