Enjoying the Journey

It's 2014.  Seems like yesterday when everyone was stocking up on flashlights, batteries, generators, milk and bread because the year 2000 was upon us and the world was going to end!  Well, we're still here.  I don't think the electricity even went out!

Over the past 14 years, my life has been absolutely crazy good, with a few unfortunate sprinkles of bad.  The not so pleasant ones I wish I could take back and change, but I can't.  Instead, I've chosen to live and learn from them and then move on, hopeful to not make the same mistakes again.  Yet, thankful that the God I love and serve will love me anyway, even if and when I do.   

Since 2000, there have been some major life changing events in my life.  I went through divorce, my oldest daughter was married, I sent another off to college, moved across the country and back, became a grandmother, I got my heart broken, became a radio show personality and started starring in a reality television show!  Whew, I'm tired just thinking about it. 

God has been so good to me, in spite of myself.  My life has definitely been fun and interesting!  Someone once told me, "Enjoy the journey."  In the past, it's not been my personality to "stop and smell the roses".  On any given day, I'm involved with 10 different things at the same time.  But, over the last couple years, I've made a deliberate effort to try harder at mastering this technique of slowing down and savoring the big and little blessings that come my way.  And doing pretty well at it, I might add!  I want to be a person who appreciates what I have now, instead of longing for what I've lost.   

Two years ago when a relationship ended, I was crushed.  Sure, I've had my heart broken before, but the healing process took much longer than I'd expected.  When you're so sure you know someone, only to find out how wrong you were, it's incredibly painful.  That experience caused me to doubt myself, others and even my future.   When things don't turn out the way you thought they would, it's time to reflect.  As I've asked myself the hard questions after heartbreak or bad decisions, I've come to a conclusion.

Let me start by saying that there've been times in my life that I've been my own worst enemy.  I've complained before about my "picker" being "off", but now come to a revelation.  My "picker" is just fine.

I have really good instincts.  I refer to that still small voice, that sense of wrong or right, as the Holy Spirit.  It's not God's fault for the times I choose not to listen.  Many times, the Lord has spoken to me and done His best to lead me on a better path than one I was on.  Whether it was getting involved with the wrong person, a career decision, or even a purchase.  For instance, I heard God loud and clear when He tried to spare me from the pain and humiliation of that last relationship.  I just disregarded it because I wanted what I wanted.  Sometimes our flesh deceives us.  We convince ourselves that things will work out, even when God is saying, "No".  And because of His Grace, sometimes they do, but sometimes they just don't. 
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When things go bad in our life, we tend to blame someone other than ourselves.  Although it's true, we can't control what someone does to us, lots of times, if not most, we blame God.  But, guess what?  It's not His fault.  We have the freedom to think for ourselves, as well as, make our own decisions.  We aren't robots.  God takes a lot of undeserving criticism for things that we cause to happen.  Other people in our lives may lie, hurt and even cheat on us, that's not God's fault either.

I'm grateful for my life, the people in it and the work that I'm blessed to do each and every day.  I pinch myself that I make a living having so much fun!

Recently, I was asked what's missing in my life?  I'm truly blessed, fulfilled and content.  I am looking forward to sharing my life with a "significant other" one day, sharing his and my successes together and mostly my heart.

But, until that time comes, I'll be enjoying the journey.