Friday, September 26, 2014

Another Month, another life taken…

I spent most of the morning crying for someone I had only briefly known.  A young man of 16 decided life was not worth continuing and ended his life.  That makes 8 people I knew personally this year, and then there are the four I knew of but had no personal connection with who took their lives as well.

I will never understand, but at times, I wonder if I do. I have that innate ability not to quit, so I see things and approach difficult times differently. I always understand that life is what we make of it. 

I often have a co-worker who is ill and will usually complain about how much he does not enjoy his work.  He feels underappreciated and just wants to quit his job.  He said he wished he enjoyed his work half as much as I did.  He was shocked when I said I HATE my job for the past 6 months.  I despise getting up and coming to work, as it is a heavy burden with little satisfaction.  He said no one would ever know that, as I am always joyful and productive.

I explained that life is what we make of it. I explained that during many of the marathons and longer races I finished, I hated running. Riding my bicycle from Denver, Colorado, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, there were several times I hated biking. But just like life, there are ups and downs, and what shapes us is how we use attitude to get through the lows. There is joy in getting through the hell we often find before us daily.

I am at an all-time low right now.  I'm unsure anyone could tell because I know I was not put on the earth to quit and smile as I work through the lows.  It is a shame so many acquaintances have found it easier to quit.  I will never understand, and for that, I am blessed.  May you never quit and use a positive attitude to enjoy the life you have before you.


Carry on, my friends, Carry on…

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