Advice from Adeline: Sometimes life throws us curve balls; sometimes they are spit balls! I put COVID-19 in the “spit” ball category. While we love our families, we don’t necessarily LIKE them all the time. This is one lesson I learned or relearned as a result of the quarantine. My world is in the reshaping stage just like so many of yours are. Life is short and I have more life behind me than in front of me. Therefore, I decided to make changes, not from desperation or unhappiness, but for more joy in my life. I strive to walk by faith daily. Sometimes we need to reaffirm who we are and what we truly want from life. Something that is important to me, that is on my life’s top ten list of needs or wants, may not be on someone else’s. It is individualized and unique only to me. What I found is that many things I thought were “MUST haves” turned out to be negotiable or got deleted. Funny how trivial some things become when faced with truly life-changing decisions. Happiness and joy are all in your perception. Wake up and start every day with gratitude and the intent to live happily. I have missed my target on occasion. I have let another’s negativity overflow and affect my
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attitude. At times, I am misunderstood; but it usually comes back to the fact my intention and my delivery of the message did not coincide. My joy and happiness are my own responsibility. Are you estranged from a loved one or dear friend? Have you let hours, days, weeks, months, or years go by without mending relationships? Have you wanted to heal a relationship, yet felt you would be rebuffed and don’t want to run the risk of humiliation? Can you say, “I am sorry for my role in this situation?” Often our pride is our downfall. Be the first to apologize without expectations. I am not saying the hurts aren’t real. Many times, they are devastating. However, our pride should not keep us from offering and/or seeking forgiveness and reconciliation. Don’t let the hurts, the anger from the past keep you from forgiving, rebuilding, and reconnecting with friends and family. Take that leap of faith. God has a plan for us, let Him have control and follow His example of love. First, forgive yourself, and then forgive others. Be the person that reunites, reconnects, rebuilds, and reclaims the relationships you value in your life.
