did you ever

I had a hard time thinking about what to write about today. Did you evernotice when something bad happens or something emotional, we have a lot to say, at least I do, but when everything is status quo, it is harder to come up with something. I wonder why this is.? I, like I know others, have a hard time enjoying good things happening. We have that sudden attack that in a minute it will be gone, or something bad will follow which will take our mind off enjoying the good things. Well, one of my resolutions for this year, is to embrace the good things, enjoy them, because you never know when they will be taken away. It involves not changing what happens to you but changing how you look or think about them. I can either be fearful of the negative or embrace it. Its how we choose. In my CBT classess that I teach, this is what I share with my studentss,( I should practice what I preach) change your thinking and your behavior and feelings will change with it and thus, your perspective on things. It has taken me a long time to be able to do this. I was always worried about "The next thing" what whould it be, I was scared of it. But I learned two things, have faith,and be grateful, and that I could handle what ever it is, so why be afraid of it. I never thought like that before, but I noticed when I was grateful for what I had, and did, and experienced that, then it was easier to handle the negative things that popped up. Also, I learned that there is nothing to fear but fear itself. Half the time, the fears I expereinced weren't really as bad once I did it. I have been afraid to fly all my life. A couple years ago after my brother passed, I wanted to see my other brother so bad, and my daughter had a soccer tournament in California and I didn't want to be left behind, I finally said, What the heck, and flew on the plane anyway. You know what, it really wasn't that bad, I got some reading done and some magazines read. I don't love it, but on the way home, I started to relax a little more. I remember that as I am writing about fears and gratitude. I am grateful for that experience now, but at the time I was mad that I had to do it in order to get what I wanted. So the lessons learned as we experience this journey of life, is to stay in the present so you can enjoy what happens to you, be grateful for people and things in your life, and change your thinking about how you see things. I know my life seems a little better for it and I can only hope it gets better. Susan