#506: Unexpected Blessings II

"I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances."
Martha Washington (1732 - 1802)
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Life is often funny. Not just funny ha ha but funny weird at how things work out.

A couple of days ago while taking out my contact lenses one of them popped out and disappeared even though I had my head bent over the sink. I was happy to find it on the floor intact (I stepped on one in the past). That saved me frustration, $65 for a new lens and a trip to the eye doctor.

Today I ran a couple of errands, got home and took a nap to get rid of a headache before bowling league tonight. A half-hour before the alarm was to go off the phone rang so I stayed up, went out to get the mail and saw a flat tire on the car. I was thankful it happened at home in the shade and not on the major highway I drove on earlier in 93 degree weather. If the phone hadn't cut short the nap, I wouldn't have had time to change the tire, get cleaned up, get extra air in the spare and get to league on time.

Funny, huh, how things work out?

Two months ago I bought new tires for the front of the car but was waiting to get ones for the back. Now that decision has been made for me and I'll get the other two new ones tomorrow.

Next week is our league payoff so with what I saved on the contact lens and the bowling prize money, the tires are about 2/3rds paid for. A nice bonus.

I have learned not to get upset and angry over setbacks but to look on the bright side and be grateful for unexpected blessings such as these this week. I have found that this attitude makes life more bearable and difficulties easier to handle.

For let's face it -- difficulties will happen and many times at the most inopportune times. But looking at the circumstances surrounding them and seeing the good fortune in the situations helps our dispositions and fills our hearts with happiness and thankfulness.

The next time something goes wrong for you try to acknowledge all of the positive aspects of what you face. If you do, you will find peace and not anger, acceptance and not despair, gratitude and not bitterness.

This attitude works for me whether life's tribulations are funny ha ha or funny weird. I'm confident it will work for you, too.