"We can't change the inevitable. But we can change how we respond."
We can't change the fact that life will always throw something new at us, it might be as simple as forgetting to get gas or as serious as an illness. Regardless of the seriousness of the situation some days in life are just better than others.
It's 'bout as bad as it could be Seems everybody's buggin' me Like nothing wants to go my way Yeah, it just ain't been my day Nothin's comin' easily Even something as simple as Forgettin' to fill up on gas There ain't no explanation why Things like that can make you cry Just gotta learn to have a laugh
- Shania Twain
I've always loved Shania's song UP - her simple line "Just gotta learn to have a laugh" actually has some incredible wisdom. After all, life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react. Since pastor Charles Swindoll wrote those inspiring words, they've been shared over sixty-five million times across the globe.
I like these words, but I am not good at listening to these words. When life throws a curve ball my mind tends to react with anxiety and stress. Although I cannot control life - I can control 90% of it - how I react. I tend to let my mind run away with itself - quickly flipping through the worst case scenarios. Instead, I could choose to learn how to have a laugh and focus on the best case scenarios and how to accomplish them.
Worrying does not fix anything, but it seems to be an easy response to fall into. Today I am reminding myself that although life is not in my control - the reality is 90% of it is. And the 10% that I can't control - well that is in God's hands - so what is there to worry about?
In agriculture especially, there are many things we have to put in God's hands - the weather, the rainfall, illness in our families or in our cattle, how well our crops grow, how many of our calves survive birth, or even if our equipment will stay in working order to meet deadlines. There are many unknowns. Sometimes we can do things to increase our success, and for others like rainfall - we have to completely turn to our faith.
Regardless of how any of these things pan out - our reactions to all of these situations determine our success or failure. Our reactions also determine if we are having a good day or not. Find a solution and "learn to have a laugh" - your 90% there.
