For more than two years now I have been on my own, figuring things out and writing that next chapter in my life. Life is constantly evolving and teaching me new things, not always in ways I want to learn new things, but learning them nonetheless. There are moments I feel like God has clicked the pause button on my life while He's in the kitchen getting a sandwich. I'm learning patience (but not fast enough for me!)
I've learned how important planning and preparation is. Everytime I head out on another assigned trip for work, I am learning how to pack more efficiently. Every new flight I start I learn how to prepare and configure my galley for the easiest flight possible. These things don't always work out, of course. I still tend to pack way too much and my aching shoulders are proof of that. There are still flights where things don't go as planned. But it's always teaching me something new. Something doesn't work out right so I think to myself "ok, next time I'm doing THIS instead" or "I'm not doing THAT ever again!!"
Financially, I'm still learning the lesson of frugality. Amazing, since my husband Mike was one of the most frugal people I have ever known. I did my best to balance that out over the years, but never with much success. Now I'm trying to be more frugal and thrifty.
I'm also learning to be more grateful and appreciative of all the blessings I have in my life. I think as we go through life we tend to take all those things for granted. We don't mean to but we get caught up in always wanting more and bigger and better things. We get a new tv and love it, then see a newer larger model and wish we had gotten that one instead. We get an iPhone 4 and then wish we had waited for the iPhone 5. We buy a new house and then feel envious of the larger more elaborate houses going up in our neighborhood. I think it's human nature. But in the meantime we don't appreciate all those good things we already have in our life.
It's goes beyond those material things, of course. We need to learn to appreciate those people in our life and not always wishing they would just be different. If you have children, be thankful for them because there are those who could never conceive or even adopt. If your parents or grandparents are still alive, be grateful because many have no parents or grandparents to turn to. Be thankful for your spouse or significant other; they may not be there tomorrow and there are many all alone. If you have good friends in your life, remember to be appreciative of them as well. Those who have a job, even a crappy one that they hate, need to stop and be thankful that they have a job and have income, rather than simply wishing they had a better one. There are so many out of work right now. Instead of always just dreaming of having more money, be thankful for what you have now. It may not be much, but its far more than some have.
Not that there's anything wrong with aspiring for more. That's human nature. It's good to go after a better job that you will love and that pays more. Nothing wrong with wanting material things as well. But while chasing the dream, look around at what you already have and give thanks. Enjoy it in the now. I believe that is the key to gaining more as well.
I'm learning to just be happy now. Not waiting until I get all the furniture I need for my house, or a bigger paycheck, or a better work schedule and more seniority at work, or lose 5 more pounds or for anything else to happen first. I have decided to just be happy now, exactly as I am and how things are now. And it's not easy. That's where the learning comes in. I have to learn to do this and fight the tendency to feel sorry for myself when things don't work out the way I want them to or when they don't happen fast enough for me.
I believe that the key to being happy is just deciding to be happy right now and not sweating the small stuff. To live more simply and not getting caught up in other people's drama. I believe we need to be more kind and giving, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem at the time. Stop judging others and worrying about what they're doing or wearing or acting like. Laugh more and find humor in all situations. And accept that we're not perfect, we make mistakes and are human. Sometimes we screw up and there's no sense in beating yourself up over it every time. To let go more, pray more and worry less.
So learning to plan and prepare more, be more patient and more frugal are some of what I'm working on but the most important thing I think is learning to just be happy no matter what. Those are my goals now and I will keep working on that everyday.
