“I don’t want to go to work…. Its early… I wish I could push
my snooze just one more time…” Welcome to my inner monologue in the morning as
I crack open an eye and grasp for eye drops because I was too lazy to take my
contacts out the night before. I do not dislike my job, but perhaps you can
resonate with my tendency to bemoan alarm clocks and waking up early for work.
I am not going to go so far as to call it human nature, but I think most of us
feel like complaining, bemoaning, or grumping about our issues and annoyances
from time to time.
I see life through a pretty average lens – almost 30 years
old, made it through school (a couple of times), have a job, cherish friends
and family, have a strong faith, can never find enough time for hobbies and
Netflix… life is good. Yet I find my reasons to complain. Be it mornings, picking up dog doo-doo, home
repairs, changing oil in the car, looking for a lost shoe, or not knowing what
to cook for supper, I let little things get under my skin and sour my attitude.
When I catch myself in the act of being petty, annoyed, or
impatient I try to take a step back, and widen my perspective. Being married to
Ashley has made gaining a “wider perspective” pretty easy.
If you have been following Ashley’s blog over the past three
weeks, you have likely noticed that she is full of determination, courage,
bravery, compassion, hopes, dreams, and has an insatiable passion for life. Ashley
maintains these admirable qualities despite the unsolicited circumstances that
require her to fight for every breath, wake up early and spend endless hours
doing therapy and inhalation treatments, take medications that both help and
harm her body, worry about lung infection and inflammation, and cope with
chronic shortness of breath.
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| Cooking Class in Paris, 2O11 |
Ashley rarely, if ever, complains about life. If anyone has
reason to do so, it would be her. But she does not let any problems, no matter
how small or big get in her way. Rather, she takes life one breath at a time,
trying to make each and every one count. She strives to make the most of each
and every day, and lives like she wants to squeeze every last drop of life out
of each day. I admire her for this. I love her for this (and many other
reasons). She has taught me so much about living a full and meaningful life
filled with and gratitude and passion. I only wish I were better at emulating
her and living up to her example. She is a daily inspiration to me and reminds
me not to take even one breath for granted.
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| squeeze every last drop |
Today is Monday. Mondays have a reputation for giving people ample opportunities to complain and be grumpy. Today I challenge you to widen your perspective. Be grateful for each breath you are given.
How will you
squeeze the most life out of today?
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