Choose Wisely

 Choices are everywhere! From the minute we wake up until the time we go to sleep, we have a choice to make about something. We decide whether it's a good or bad choice. Do we always make the right choices? No! I know I don't always. In the last couple of years especially, my family and I have had a lot of people pass away near and dear to our heart. Out of all the months, the month of April is always bittersweet for me because I have lost five family members in this month. My Dad, two aunts, a great aunt and an uncle all passed away in April on different years. Losing loved ones is never easy and it felt like just yesterday they were here. Most recently, my great aunt at 81 years old passed away on April 7th of this month. Her and I talked pretty much every day and we would exchange updates about what was going on in our days. I liked to call them daily check-ins 💜. I will definitely miss those! I will miss the visits and hearing and sharing stories and showing her pictures of family, my trips and adventures. In the loss of my loved ones, I have learned ( and am still learning) a lot about myself, relationships and life itself. I want to take a few minutes here and share what lessons I've learned about choices.

1. Choose to find something to be grateful for. I have learned through all my loss to be thankful for the time I had with my people. I am learning to be thankful for my people still with me. I do my best to look for something to be grateful for in each day- the sun shining, fresh air, phone call from a loved one or friend, exercise, eating my favorite food or sweet treat, a student remembered something I taught ( a big teacher win 😊!). Big or small, let's find something we can be thankful for. 

2. Choose wisely how you spend your time and energy. Each day has 24 hours. I know some (maybe many) days it doesn't feel like we have 24 hours in a day, but it is. We get to choose what we focus on and how we use our time. I've learned that keeping a connection with family and friends is so important 💖. My family and I are close and in constant communication through text, messaging, video chat or a phone call. We may not talk every single day, but know we will check-in and update each other. Check-ins don't have to be long. When my great aunt and I talked, there were some days we only talked 5 minutes, especially on days she wasn't feeling well. It was the fact we heard each other's voice. We have to get back to a place in our society where we value the voice again. Text is good when you need to do so ( I use it a lot, too), but the phone call or video chat where you can hear the voice is also powerful. I make sure I check-in with my people when I can. I make sure I do things that will encourage and uplift myself and others 💚. I've learned social media can be a good thing, but there's also a time to stop scrolling also. On nice days, I make time to go sit outside and walk around, set aside time to read, and get work done for my class I'm taking. I'm learning my time is valuable and have a healthy balance of things I need to do. I have to pray and look at priorities and decide what needs to be done in that day 🙏.

3. Choose what's best for you. With all the loss I have dealt with and dealing with, I'm learning to take care of me more. Loss is emotionally draining. I can't please everyone and I'm not even trying. You shouldn't please people either. When I was younger and a younger adult than I am now, I did try to please people. I saw that didn't go anywhere and it was impossible. I learned that to be at my best, I have to take care of me . Everyone won't agree with me and that's okay because I'm doing what's best for me. I get my physical check-ups and nails and hair done (or do them myself when I have to), working on getting my rest and decluttering my physical spaces, trying new things, going on my girls' trips, family fun days, meeting new people and building deeper friendships and relationships. I'm growing, healing and overcoming daily 💚. I want to continue to love life, grow and blossom as I am 😊. 

4. Choose wisely who is in your circle/support system. This choice is very important because it matters who surrounds us and is in our space. We should have people in our space that is encouraging us to grow, learn, have new experiences, try new things and heal 💚. Our circle doesn't have to be big. Size has nothing with do with how supportive one is. Smaller circles can be just as supportive as bigger circles. I'm so thankful for my circle who is made up of family and friends who truly want the best for me. They're people who speak life, encourage you to step out of your comfort zone, want to see your rise and not your downfall, grow, evolve and reach goals and dreams. If you're in my circle and reading this, I thank you from the bottom of my heart 😊💕. 

5. Choose to hold on to your faith. Life has knocked me down hard many times, but it's my faith in God that allows me to bounce back up. It's my hope in God and relationship with Him that has allowed me to stand when I didn't think I could or even wanted to. He keeps me going and I do my best to live for Him every day. I have to keep reading my Word, praying and praising God even when I don't feel like it. God's strength has gotten me where I'm at today 👏. I had to believe things would get better in my life and they have. I had to keep looking up to God and know he would help me and continues to help me 🙏.

6. Choose to enjoy life. I am grateful for the life I've been given. I'm thankful to be able to encourage and help others and be a light. We should always strive for that. I'm also grateful to be able to enjoy life and all it has to offer. I'm thankful for the new experiences I've had so far, the places I've visited for the first time, new restaurants I've ate or a new food item at a restaurant I always go to, and the books I have read or am reading to work on being whole in all areas of my life 💚. I'm currently reading a book about finances, which is new territory and out of my comfort zone, but I'm enjoying it and it's helping me choose wisely in my spending and saving. I like to call all of these new adventures. I want to keep having these most definitely. I'm grateful  and will forever cherish the memories I have with my loved ones who are no longer here.

  I pray you were encouraged by the lessons I shared above. As you continue to move forward in your life journey, remember to choose wisely what you say, do, where you go, who you spend time with and how you spend your time. Most of all, keep enjoying life! Until next time, I love y'all 💖!!