Remember the good times. Don't cry over spilled milk. Don't dwell on the past. Make the most out of everything. Get up, brush it off, and move on. As long as I can remember, these are all things that I have been told. Optimism; it's the way I like to look at life, and have learned so much more while being here.
Today, after I got back to the clinic from taking Debbie to the airport, the first things that I was asked: "Are you sad? Did you cry? Did she cry?" While it was sad to see her go, we had a great 5 days together and that's what matters- the good times! We were able to relax, enjoy the island, take in some sun, and do a little exploring. A trip to the East end, minutes after she got off the plane; a ceremony and mass celebrating the formation of the Bay Islands as a parish; kayaking, snorkeling, sun, and hiking; a dud for a firework show and a firework show well worth seeing. A weekend well spent!
Glass half empty, or half full? At times, many of us forget to look on the bright side. Things happen in our lives on a daily basis that, if we let them, could ruin our day, week, month, etc... All we can think about is how we miss that moment, or what if we did it a little different, or let's just live in that time forever. However, we can't dwell on them; if we do, we will only create more of them because we will miss creating the future. When a child falls down, often times the first thing they do is look around to see others' reactions. If you turn out your lip and say, "Poor thing" and immediately sweep them up and make a huge deal out of it, chances are they will start to cry. Try instead, brushing it off and making it game like. When my little brother was younger and would fall, we would look at him raise our hands and say "Touchdown!" (he was a lover of sports:) ) Instead of crying and dwelling on the fall, he would get up and continue on playing as if nothing had happened. It's the innocence of childhood at it's finest. I've found the same thing true over this past year. Volunteers and friends are constantly coming and going. It is rare that a volunteer stays longer than 4-6 weeks; it's part of my reality this past year. I could dwell on the fact that another volunteer has come and gone and now I am sad that they are no longer here. I could have the constant mindset of "what if so and so was here? What would we be doing?" They're not here though, someone else is; I must make the most out of the time that I have with them. Then when they are headed back to their prospective home, I must not dwell on the past, but remember the good times we had together. Because of this, I have been able to make some good friends that I am sure I will stay in contact with.
This is true of any situation that you or I find ourselves in. I can look back over the course of the past few days, months, and years and come up with many things that have left me sad and not wanting to leave the moment. But it was inevitable; I didn't have a choice. Time went on. I took the time to remember the good things about the moment that I will forever cherish and went on creating more of these moments. If we constantly dwell on the past and on the sad moments of life, I believe we will be in for one of the most miserable life's possible. Instead, remember the happy moments of life so that you can continue to create more happy moments and lasting memories.
So what will you do? Get up and brush it off, or stay down and wait for the moment to reverse? Is your glass half empty or half full? That milk that spilled- is it really worth crying over, or should you just clean it up and get a new glass?
Have a blessed week! Miss you all but loving my experiences!
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