Entries from March 2008 ↓

Today’s been such a lousy day. So many little things have been getting under my skin. My tolerance level is just above an ant’s head. I’m dragging as if carrying a hundred bricks in a sack. Feeling emotionally heavy, heavy, heavy.

I’m a big believer in focusing on the solution. You know what I mean? If you’re facing something that’s a challenge, we can gripe and moan and complain about it (focusing on the problem) or we can choose to accept the situation (in this case, that today stinks) and let it be what it is (lousy). Then figure out ways to just make it through the day (or to solve the problem), even if it begins to feel as if you’re counting each second as it ticks by.

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(I’ll have that official Mister Linky tool up sooner next time)

When I was fifteen, I was called in to the principal’s office, clueless about why I was summoned. I was a good student, involved in more extracurricular activities than your average kid and never looked for trouble. So why was I going to the office? When I arrived, they redirected me into my guidance counselor’s office. “Okay, this is really strange,” I thought. When I noticed that my sister was already there, I probably should have been worried, but I actually relaxed a bit. We were both on the Student Council, so I figured it probably had something to do with an upcoming activity. But when I saw the look on Mr. Smith’s face, I immediately started to tense up. Kids have a way of quickly recognizing discomfort in adults. Something was definitely wrong.

He stumbled over his words. Not only was he uncomfortable, he seemed sad about whatever he was trying to say. Finally, the words fell out like hand grenades. “Your dad…he’s in the hospital…we need to take you over there…right away.”

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