I could choose to put the dog downstairs to sleep. I could choose to close my bedroom door so my toddler could not bust into the room whenever she pleases. But I choose to accept the interruptions because it gives me the peace of mind that if something goes wrong they can reach me. It is a choice and while I may sometimes complain about lack of sleep, it is in fact my own decision.
Most of life is this way, with us in control. Yes, there are things out of our control that happen but we still get the ultimate say in how we respond.
In our home we have a lot of windows. Sometimes on the very cold days we pull heavy drapes across some of the larger ones that span whole rooms. It helps to keep the heat in but it also blocks the light. As I drew them back open the other morning and adjusted the blinds I could help but think how it was a good symbol for life.
We get to choose how much light we let in. We get to choose in many ways the energy we surround ourselves with by the people we choose to interact. We get to choose how much attention and energy we give them. We get to choose at the end of the day who has the power to come in our door freely, who has to knock, and who isn't allowed in at all.
We get to choose how much light we give out by the conversations we choose to engage in and the thoughts we choose to fill our time. We get to choose how much light we feed out heart and soul by how much we choose to focus on the positive and give thanks for what we have already.
I'm grateful for a good morning thought ramble. I'm grateful to have gotten a lot of sleep despite all the nighttime interactions. I'm grateful to choose to be there for my babies. I'm grateful to be making a conscious effort to remember not to complain. I'm grateful for all the love in my life. I'm grateful for a warm home and warm heart. I'm grateful to sleep in a bit this morning. And I'm grateful for a soft nuzzle from my sweet dog.
What are you choosing to let in? What are you choosing to focus on today?
May today remind us of all our blessings and of the power we have in our choices. May we accept responsibility for what we choose and focus on the beauty we gain from our decisions. Have a beautiful day!