Ken suggested that I sit and write for an hour every night. I'm not sure what his thoughts were in suggesting this but I appreciate the gift of time that he has given me to do it. I love to write, to draw, to take photos, making photo books etc. It brings out the best in me when I get to create. This will be part of trying to project myself into my better side a little farther.
I have been thinking on what I have to be proud of. I know, I know, it is a place that most of us don't like to go because we think that being proud means something negative. I am not talking about haughty pride. I am talking about recognizing the good in yourself and the things you have done right. It is not a bad thing to recognize your gifts and abilities and to use them in the right way so here goes.
I am proud that I am a resilient survivor. I am so grateful that my parents, my husband, my children and a few close friends encouraged these qualities in me. I think I was born with a goodly share of this but whatever the case, it has served me well through so many times of crisis in my life. Those of you who really know me, know this to be true. Heavenly Father has given me a good portion of challenges in life but I think He did it because he knew that I would make it.
I am proud that I am stubborn. When I would complain about that quality in Jason, my oldest son, my dad would always say to me, "You will be thankful for that one day." Well, he got it from me and Ken and I am grateful for it. Being stubborn has helped me take on many a fight that others chose not to take on. It has seen me through a host of painful trials just from sheer will. It has been useful in ways that I never understood.
I am proud that I have chosen to act as a daughter of my Heavenly Father in most situations. There have been a few that I have not chosen the better part but mostly I have done well. I have really never had any inclination to do anything very wrong. I guess I was born with that too. There have been times when I have been taunted and teased and called unkind things because of my choice to do the right thing. Some of these times have come from people very close to me, people I love and they have hurt. However, I have never regretted choosing the right nor do I expect to in the future.
I am proud that I have few regrets! Everyone has a few things on the list that he or she wished they hadn't said or done and I am not different from anyone else. I truly have no "major" regrets. I have fought the good fight in many ways. One of the notable ones was the fight with the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind. I have never regretted becoming one of their most "intense" parents. That fight changed the world for many deaf children here in Utah Valley including my own. I deserved the label and I embrace it for the good it created.
I am proud that I am yet a little naive and awe struck. I still get silly when looking at something new or interesting or different. I take photos by the thousands and each one has been inspired by something unique or different or beautiful that I saw. I write about the things that I love and am passionate about and though I will never be a best selling author, that isn't the reason I write. I draw the best, the things I love the most. Given my skill level, there is some left to be desired in my likenesses but I love doing them. I will never tire of the beauty that God has created and I will ever be grateful for it.
I am proud that I know how to work. I got that ethic directly from my parents. They both were workers and what they did, they did right. Sometimes it was a hard way to grow up but it has never let me down. They taught me how to clean a house, plant a yard, and go hard at anything put before me. My dad also taught me to stand back, take stock and be proud of a job well done. Mom never thought she did well enough but she was amazing in this regard. She worked hard and long at the things that were important to her.
These are just a few of the things that have crossed my mind and they are enough for the time being. I hope I come up with a few more in future posts. I hope this inspires just a couple of you to take stock of yourselves and figure out just what you are proud of too.
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