Turn Hard Days Into Lemonade

Earlier this week, my family and I experienced a few challenging days. My dad was feeling weaker than usual and we had to take him to the emergency room. Before that, we spent a few hours waiting in his current Doctor’s office and we didn’t receive much help once the doctor was able to see him. The most challenging part about the whole day was, the waiting. Man, we were waiting for hours on end and my first thought was definitely, “this sucks.” While I was waiting, I asked myself, “what is the key to remaining aligned with my Source during circumstances that do not cause natural joy?” I wrote that question down in my notebook, a minute or two passed and then the answer came. 

G R A T I T U D E 

I think I may have rolled my eyes a bit but I gave gratitude a try. I began to write down all of the things that I could be grateful for in that moment and I want to share what I wrote with you guys because it changed my life forever. 

Right now, I can be grateful for: 

1. My health and physical strength. 
2. I had to pee and this facility had a clean bathroom that I was able to use.
3. The waiting room is an opportunity to develop patience which is a beautiful trait that has to be constantly refined and a trait that will benefit me in every area of my life.
4. I can apply my meditation practices in this circumstance. I can also apply what I’ve been learning in regards my vibrational frequencies. 
5. The waiting room has really cool/fresh air conditioning. I’m grateful that it’s working. 
6. It’s not pouring rain outside. The sun is out, so when we leave, we don’t have to deal with that.
7. My dad has a wheelchair, which isn’t too hard to push and I’m grateful that he has this wheelchair so he doesn’t have to hurt himself by trying to walk.
8. Last but not least: I am grateful for a chance to REALLY learn more lessons because I know that there are certain lessons that can only be learned on the battle field and not by reading or studying a book, peacefully at home. 

I felt a surge of peace and calm after that. Right there in the midst of that waiting room. My energy/my attitude shifted completely and I breathed in deep under my mask. And not too long after I made that list, they called my father’s name. 

I learned that the ego will try and stop you from expressing gratitude during moments like that. The ego says, “are you kidding me? There’s nothing good about this. Look at your father for goodness sakes!” But the truth is that there are ALWAYS plenty things to be grateful for, we just have to be brave enough to see them, especially on hard days. 

I learned that, although discomfort cannot be ignored, it can be transformed by remembering who you truly are and by directing your thoughts towards gratitude. 

I learned that, it is not the hard moments that can drain me or cause me to be emotional deteriorated, it is actually my RESISTANCE towards fully accepting the present moment. THAT’S what destroys me.  Meditation has been teaching me how to accept each moment. Once I accept the moment, I can settle down within that moment, take a deep breath and ask myself, “okay what’s the best thing that you could do in this moment, that will benefit your well being?” 

I learned that, I do not have to live in a state of anxiety or angst REGARDLESS of what is going on around me or even within my own mind. I deserve peace. I deserve joy. I deserve calm. Simply because God is my creator, therefore I am complete. I just have to align myself with that endless source of energy, constantly, especially on hard days and the best way to do that is to practice gratitude. 

That’s all for today my beautiful friends. If you’re having a hard day or if you are in the midst of a challenging situation, practice gratitude. Take some time to write down all of the things that you can be grateful for and allow the light that comes from gratitude to fill you up. That’s the key to lighting up ANY dark place. That’s the key to turning hard days into lemonade. 

It may not feel good in the process. Just like making lemonade. Making lemonade isn’t fun. You’ve got to squeeze hard lemons and you’ve got to taste the sour lemonade a few times before you get the correct amount of sugar in it. Oh but once you get it right? There’s nothing better. Gratitude is the same way. Your feelings will scream loud. The ego will roll it’s eyes but just keep expressing gratitude and soon after you will feel gratitude running through your body like a cool refreshing cup of lemonade. 

One day at a time my friends. We got this!