This last year has been one of the most trying and hardest years to date for me. It has been full of all kinds of hardships endured by both me, my family and loved ones. I could list them but there is no need. We all go through trials, we all have trying times. I am a big believer in not comparing ones trials to another's. What is trying to me may not seem a big deal to someone else and vice versa. I do believe that we should just support others in all things no matter how big or small they may seem to us. If we love someone than we should feel empathy for them and their struggles not judgment. This is not meant to be a whoa is me and my life post. Just a we all need love and support post. Like many of you reading this we can all say we have survived 100% of our hardest and most trying days. We are still standing. Sometimes we just need a little encouragement and helping hand.
As I start a new year I look forward to new goals, new trials and new hope. I know this year will still have bumps in the road but that is what makes us stronger. That's all I can do is look at this last year and think how can I be a better me? How can I be stronger? How can I learn from this lessons placed in my way? When going through a particular tough time a friend sent me this link to blog post called "Finding Strength During Trails" by Al Fox Carraway. I almost just want to copy and post and dido her entire blog post. I loved it. I have read it more than once.
Here is a few gems from it if you don't want to read the whole thing:
"I’ve been MIA on social lately, and it’s because this trial given to me has been so difficult and unfortunately it's been kickin' my butt and I don’t see it ending
quite
yet. It’s the kind of trial that lasts longer than you think it should have. I’d like to say I’m as strong as I was when it first presented itself, but I’m not. It’s the type of trial where your strength is warn very thin and you feel like you’ve been positive about it for too long that you can’t help but let tears stream at random parts of your day doing menial daily tasks and question what else you could be doing that you’re not already to make it go away....
.....
it’s through my honest
yelling
and crying to God of what I’m
really
thinking is when I make progress with Him, my situation, and well, mostly myself.
It’s where I accept and
feel
that I won’t drown even if it won’t go away quite yet. Where I accept that sometimes all the answers wont be there, but comfort and strength always will, because He always will.
My key to finding strength
during
the thick of hard times:
First:
Honest
prayer.
Second:
So be it....
...So next time we find ourselves on our floor yelling at God pleading for things to be over and things to be different, I hope that we can take just a quick break from how we think our lives should go and with hope say “so be it.” Because our trials and our change of course will never alter the unchanging truth that God is leading us to the
best
blessings.
Why stop when we can keep going?"
Basically we all go through tough times. Asking over and over and over and over "Why? Why? Why?" Isn't always going to help. Sometimes we just won't know the why. Which can be a big pill to swallow. Here is just one more thing I found helpful this past year. It was a talk given by Elder David Bednar from my church. In it he told a story that was made into a little video.
"...Each of us also carries a load. Our individual load is comprised of demands and opportunities, obligations and privileges, afflictions and blessings, and options and constraints.... Sometimes we mistakenly may believe that happiness is the absence of a load. But bearing a load is a necessary and essential part of the plan of happiness. "
With that I wish all my readers hope. Hope to a new year of lessons learned. A new year of journeys. A new year to be adventure's. Whatever that means for you. Being adventurous doesn't mean backpacking in unmarked terrain. It could be trying something new. It could be sticking with something you wanted to give up on. Sticking with someone after they have hurt you. Standing strong in adversary. Standing up for what you believe in. Being adventurous means different things to everyone. So from my chaotic life to yours I say that again. May you be adventurous this new year.
