I work in the city. The scenery in the city consists primarily of transients, asphalt, traffic, and rooftops. From where I park in the parking garage, I can see the top of a Catholic Church which has a cross that rises high enough that it can be seen above everything else. This is the first thing I see as I arrive in the morning and the last thing I see as I leave work each day. The sight of this cross is my personal reminder that there is more to life than what goes on in the office. It reminds me that problems are always temporary and all things happen for a reason. That cross symbolizes that life is not defined by the rules of society, what we wear, or where we live.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBOTrj94wig
Over the past two months work has been unusually demanding. The sight of that cross at the end of the day is a calming force that re-energizes me before I begin my trip home. A few weeks ago I left work late and it had been a particularly difficult day. It was late, dark, I was both mentally and physically tired. I walked toward the parking garage in the dark feeling a sense of disappointment because, especially on that particular day, I truly needed the feeling of peace the sight of that cross brings me. As I got in my vehicle I glanced in the general direction of the church. To my amazement, the cross was illuminated by light and glowing in the night sky for all to see. I could only sit and stare. Before I began my journey home I said a silent prayer of gratitude. Seeing the cross that evening was a gentle reminder that I need to focus on faith instead of what I don’t have otherwise I end up overlooking the blessings in my life.
The sight of the cross is more than just a refresher for my spirit. It is a reminder that my thoughts have been on everything except my many blessings. When I was young, my father told me to look at the sunset and sunrise when I am troubled. He said our troubles are never permanent. Change is inevitable and the change begins with the dawn of a new day.
A new year is only hours away and I have been thinking about my blessings in 2010. My life is filled with family and friends that I am extremely grateful for. Part of my family includes two incredible dogs that have given me unconditional love. I have a job I enjoy and life has taught me that there is something to delight me every single day whether it be a cross rising above the rooftops or a sunrise that is so spectacular it defies description. I am grateful for parents who taught me to be strong, independent, with the courage to step out of my comfort zone and experience new things. These are traits that I share with my own children.
My New Year resolution for 2011 is to take time every day to invest in life. I tend to become extremely task focused to the point that I will look up to realize that days have gone and I failed to set aside time to ‘just be.’ It takes a gentle reminder, like the view of a cross glowing through the darkness after a hard day, to remind me that life is not just about work or household chores. My resolution for 2011 is to remember that life is meant to be lived. I must not become so engrossed in my work or my responsibilities that I lose focus of the blessings in my life today.
My attitude will define the year 2011 for me, not the events. So I bid goodbye to the year 2010, not with parties and chapagne, but with my most precious blessings. I end this year in the company of my dogs, my family, my kids, and a bottle of apple cider while I am curled up on the couch with my sweet granddaughter, crayons, color books, and a spongebob cartoon. I am content. I am happy.
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