by Ronnie Tyler
Watching Oprah’s show last Wednesday really helped me put my life into the proper perspective. I have been feeling overwhelmed, tired, and probably a little depressed lately. The every day hustle and bustle consisting of getting up, taking care of the kids, going to work,and taking care of the kids after work plus any household chores was taking it’s toll on me.
But after hearing the story of Ashley Markham and her husband Blue, I snapped back into reality. Ashley’s parents were brutally murdered and this left her and her husband with the responsibility of taking care of her nine siblings (who all have severe disabilities.) In addition to this, Ashley has a full time job. When Oprah asked Ashley and Blue how did this affect their marriage, Ashley said that it has brought them closer together. When Ashley gets overwhelmed she remembers her mother in order to find strength:
“I feel like she’s right next to me, pushing me to go on,” she says. “I feel like her strength is in me to keep me going, because I know I have to.”
When I hear or see stories like this, it inspires me because I know that if Ashley can survive this, then I surely can survive too. It makes me assess my own situation and think of how blessed I am and about how much I have to be thankful for.
When I feel myself getting overwhelmed, the following actions help me to keep things in perspective and help me to find strength:
1. Be thankful. I am truly blessed and have so much to be thankful for. I start my day in prayer, thanking God for all that he has blessed me with. Do you take many things in your life for granted? By looking at the world a little differently (with a different perspective,) you just might realize how much you have to be thankful for.
2. Be positive. This goes along with #1. Why focus on the negative? I surround myself with positive people or listen to positive/inspirational music,or watch an inspirational movie. I find that being positive allows me to see the bigger picture and to look for solutions to my problems. Whereas being negative makes me focus on the problems.
3. Talk to my husband. If I am feeling down, I talk to my husband who is always there for me emotionally. He listens and is always willing to help me find a solution to whatever is bothering me. Sharing with him brings us closer together and strengthens our bond as a couple.
4. Help others. I don’t know what else to say about this but that helping others just feels good. It helps me feel connected to others and fulfilled. Helping others in need definitely helps to put things into perspective and leads to a happier outlook on life.
5. Work on my goals. Working on my goals always provides me with a sense of accomplishment. I get excited knowing that I am working towards changing my current situation, that my hard work will pay off and that my struggles/discomfort are only temporary.
BMWK family can you add to that list? What are some of the things that help you keep things in perspective?