Misunderstood

Ever feel like some people just don't get you? Maybe it's in a conversation that you have had or an action that was taken the wrong way. Or maybe there are some people that really don't understand you and never will. Because the angle that you're coming from is so far different from what they know, that they truly can't relate. 

I find this to be particularly true for those of us that aren't afraid to ask questions. Those of us that tend to challenge the said status quo. Those of us that take the opinions of others with a grain of salt and move on, preferring to here all sides before we even begin to form opinions of our own. 

I don't know a lot about politics. And most of that is by choice. I don't like to watch to news or read the paper very often. Most of what is in there is depressing. And so, for those reasons, you won't find me getting involved in political discussions. Because I don't know enough about the issues to even begin to speak with any sort of intelligence. And I'm not going to just share what I've heard other people say. 

I find it interesting to watch Christians who have God in a box freak out when He comes out of that box and their comfort zone is no longer comfortable. I'm a bit of a spiritual nomad. I love to ask questions. I'm not afraid to question God. I heard someone recently talk about how it is not our place to question what God does but we are to just accept what comes our way by faith and suffer through. WHAT?!?! That's not the God that I know. My God is bigger than that. He can handle my questions and uncertainties and even my anger. Life doesn't always make sense and I think God expects us to wonder why. We are, after all, human. 

I think we tend to be misunderstood most by those that think they know us, but really don't. Maybe someone has "known" you for a long time but never really gotten to know you as a person. I have several such people in my life right now. And it's frustrating. They're far too concerned with getting their point across in a conversation to ever really hear what you think or where you're coming from. They can't see your heart because their brain and their mouth are in the way. It's pointless, really, to try to talk to them about anything other than the weather. And you walk away feeling like what you said was taken completely out of context. But there is no point in trying to "help them see" your side. They probably never will. And so we remain, misunderstood.

Before You Respond

We are all on a quest. Whether we know it or not, we are all seeking something. And we all have questions within. Some have more than others. And some take a bit longer than others to find the answers. Some people are very secure and confident in who they are wherever they are. Still others are trying to find their place in the world. That doesn't mean that they lack confidence, but they just know that they haven't found what they are looking for yet. It's hard to explain really, unless you've been there.

And I have definitely been there.

I would say that overall I'm a fairly secure person in who I am. And I tend to be pretty confident and don't let others opinions and ideas shape me. But I am also on my quest to discover "my calling" so to speak. To find what I love and do it with all my heart. To live life to the absolute fullest. 

Our searching can manifest itself in all sorts of different ways. For me it has been in moving around. But I have come to realize that my contentment is not going to be found in a place. Because wherever I go, I take myself and the questions within that I still have yet to find answers for.

I was recently contemplating the idea of another major move. Partly because I have to move in a couple months anyway and partly because I'm sick of winter. And then I read something that completely stopped me in my tracks.

With all the options today, it is critical to define your own priorities. If you simply respond to circumstances, any obstacle will send you in a new direction. Circumstances should not determine our choices. Priorities can guide us through the inevitable changes that will come our way. ~Dan Miller

Responding to circumstances is easy. Defining priorities takes some thought. Some people are planners and some are responders. And some people start out as planners but when life seems to not ever go the way that they thought, they find themselves becoming responders. I'm not saying that is always a bad thing, but it can be dangerous. And if you're priorities are out of line, you can very easily take some wrong turns and find yourself in places that you don't want to be. And it can also make the journey to discovering who you are and finding answers to your questions, much longer than you thought. 

I think there needs to be a middle of the road here. Sometimes life throws us curve balls and in those cases, we need to be flexible and able to roll with the punches. We have to respond because we have no other chose. But we also can't be afraid to plan just because things might not turn out the way we want them to. We need to know where our priorities lie so that when find ourselves in a "crisis" situation, we already have those safeguards in place to help guide us.

It has been almost a year since I moved north. And one of the reasons that I moved was to be closer to my immediate family. My family is definitely a priority. And the move that I was recently contemplating would have taken me much farther away. The circumstances of winter made me want to pack my bags and head back south, then I remembered why I moved here in the first place. I'm learning. Slowly sometimes, but nevertheless, I'm learning. And at the end of the day, that's the way it should be.

The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. ~Proverbs 16:9

Finding Alignment

It's interesting how many things I have read or heard recently that have talked about balance. Particularly a life in balance. And it's amazing all the the things that can throw us off and turn us upside down. I'm reading a great book called 48 Days To The Work You Love. One of the things that the author, Dan Miller, stresses is how our lives need to be balanced in all areas in order for us to have success. He stresses 7 areas to focus on: Financial, Physical, Personal Development, Family, Spiritual, Social and Career.  If even one area is off, it will throw us off in all others and then we are left wondering what went wrong and why.

I'm in the midst of a practical example of this. About 8 months ago I injured my back and ended up in the hospital. After a few days rest, some strong pain killers and muscles relaxers, I was feeling back to normal and life continued. But things weren't normal at all. If you know anything about muscle injuries, often times when something is "out" or "off", other muscles over compensate and end up strained. And then your body starts to sort of "heal" in that off manner. So yesterday while doing something minor and really not at all strenuous, my back was thrown out again. And after suffering all day yesterday and through the night, I called the chiropractor this morning and got an adjustment. I'm not back to normal yet, but I'm on the road to healing. And think this is going to help with a lot of other "health issues" that I've been dealing with for a few months. Why? Because everything is connected and when one thing is off, they all are.

The same is true in life. And yet, we continue to neglect important areas and then wonder why everything else is a mess. When was the last time you relaxed? (I mean really relaxed). How much time have you spent lately with those that matter most to you? How do you feel spiritually? Mentally? Physically? Finding balance is so important in order for us to be able to function properly. 

I'm trying to use this winter, a season that I'm not really a big fan of, to get some things back in line. I'm attempting to use the extra time that I have right now to read more, exercise and learn about things that I've always wanted to know. I want to head into the next phase of life with things in balance and ready to take on the world.

And The Diagnosis Is...

No, I'm not sick. And I haven't been to any doctors lately. I just have a really bad case of cabin fever. I think it's worse this year than it has been in a long time. I'm ready for sunshine and warmer weather. It seems like it's snowed every other day for the past couple of months. And trying to mentally on "some beach, some where" isn't working too well. :) Anyone else ready for Spring?