It's the Little Things ...

Lately life has had its way with me in the form of "challenges".

My fiance was badly hurt at a concert (which he loves concerts, so this was quite a "blow").  He came home rather bloody and VERY swollen; one eye completely swollen shut.  We had a 12:30am ER visit and didn't get home until 3:30am.  Verdict according to the hospital - shattered left cheek, broken bones behind the eye, fractured the bridge of his nose and a broken right cheekbone.  Thankfully no concussion, but surgery seemed certain.  Here's the "cherry on top", it was his birthday.  Four days later we went to a specialist where they re-took some x-rays and discovered that all that was fractured was his left cheek by his eye and he'd heal all on his own in 3-4 weeks.  No surgery would be required.  Three weeks have now passed, bills have arrived and his healing is doing very well; nearly done.  The bills even came in over a grand less than what we were expecting and overall we're feeling quite blessed.

It's the little things ...

My grandparents travel a lot around the western side of the country as they're snowbirds.  Each at the young age of 73, they drive from Oregon to Arizona and sometimes to Kansas, Colorado, Nevada and California.  They're on the road a lot.  Despite all their traveling, they have made it to each of their destinations unscathed (for the most part) and safe.  I am so glad God watches over them and continues to answer my prayers of keeping them safe.

It's the little things ...

I work at a wonderful place filled with wonderful people but sometimes some of our "clients" get their feathers ruffled a little more than usual.  I got the brunt of one of these "ruffelings" yesterday and will admit, I was literally shaking after the event.  I couldn't remember the last time I was "attacked" in that way and it really threw me.  After calming down and speaking with a trusted individual, I went back to my desk and back to work.  Shortly thereafter I had a lady bring me a thank you card (which was the sweetest thing I had read in a long time), another gave me a poinsettia, and three others sent their "good wishes" and "Merry Christmas's".  Then about an hour after that, another co-worker told me that a wonderful, God-fearing woman volunteered herself to be my mentor.  A HUGE blessing and answered prayer.

It's the little things ...

Christmas is right around the corner and presents are starting to show up under our tree.  My fiance, God love him, gets very excited about the gift aspect and constantly is asking me, "What'd you get me?"  Myself, being raised very traditionally when it comes to Christmas, never budge when he asks these questions.  However, last night after I got home after one of my 12-hour days, he says, "I need you to open one of your gifts ... it's ornaments."  -- can I just interject here for a moment?  When you're 28-years old and have the heart of a child, I can say that I honestly look forward to the surprises that lie waiting to be discovered under the Christmas tree.  Sadly this year ... I know what I'm getting because everyone told me.  Seriously kills the surprise, let me tell ya.  -- Anyways -- I open this gift and sure enough, it's ten little Totoro themed ornaments.  Oh, I squealed with glee and immediately sent pictures to those who knew who he was and were aware of my obsession.

It's the little things ...

My best friend works with special needs adults and she sent me a text the other day saying, "[client] just buttered his own roll...

... it's the little things."

In life, we get hit - hard sometimes, but there are a mountain of cliches stating how we need to get up, dust ourselves off and keep going.  But "keep going" and going well, I feel, tend to get separated.  Sure, we get up and keep going, but we're hunched over, sulking and flinching at every creak in the floor.  We tend to find and focus on the negatives which result in us being overly defensive, not looking at situations with alternative perspectives, being selfish because we feel we're the only ones who'll take care of ourselves, along with many other negative points.

When I was speaking with this "trusted individual", she kept saying, "We..." when I would say, "I'll work on it."  We HAVE to remember that we are not in this life alone.  Sure it feels like it sometimes but if you really, really look ... take the blinders of depression and frustration and hurt off and really look - you'll see an onslaught of supporters compiled of your friends, family and co-workers standing all around you.

Remember ... it's in the little things that we are able to locate the positives in this life.