Wanna Make a Bet

For the greater part of my life, I have erred on the side of being a hopeless romantic. I am logical and think a LOT, but I tend to go through life with this idea that no matter what, everything is going to work out great, and everything is for the best, and that even on the bad days, we must choose to look at every situation as if it were covered in sunshine, roses, and butterflies.  This is not always the case.

As a child, I was very independent. I couldn’t wait to grow up and move out and go far away. I always said, “I love it here, but when I grow up, I will definitely be the child that flies home for Christmas.” Fast forward about fifteen years, and I am moving my little self and my sweet family back to the same exact spot that I grew up on, and I couldn’t be more excited about it. I don’t ever want to leave this place. My, how times have changed. (If you aren’t old like me yet, prepare yourself. That tends to happen.)

So I am excited. Beyond excited. But with any new adventure, there is certainly some uncertainty, some trepidation, and some feeling of the need to consider all that could happen– both the positive and the negative.

Over the last ten years, my mom has become one of my very best friends. This is funny because we are essentially nothing alike, and as I have mentioned before– I still consider the option that perhaps I was accidentally switched at birth. I look at all new possibilities with rose colored glasses. My mom? She makes me giggle. I can tell her what I think is great news, and she just gives me that sideways look and I can already see ten negative viewpoints going through her head.

1. An example. As we are getting quotes to build, I tell her: “I sent a plan to Roofer A, he got back to me right away, so that’s good.” And she just looks back in her sideways look, “Well, he must be desperate.” (MOM! Maybe he’s professional. Maybe he’s prompt. This is a GOOD thing! Bless.)

2. It is not her fault. While I often wonder where in the world I come from, there is no question where she came from. My grandpa was the one of the most loving, precious, grouchiest, snarliest old men I have ever met, and I loved him to death for it. (An example. The whole family goes out to eat. Fun times, right? You could count on him to give you a halfway glance and grit out under his breath… “What the hellll we doing here?”)

Now let me tell you something, even when I get frustrated and roll my eyes and tell my mom, “You’re so negative!” I appreciate that about her. I appreciate her ability to keep me grounded and to help me consider every angle of a situation, instead of just the best case scenario. But over the last many years, I have learned something very important. That balance? That combination of positive and negative… it’s absolutely imperative to life.

Here’s the deal, we can’t go through life blissfully unaware of the negative things that could happen. We have to consider those things. But we must, at some point, make a choice. We must choose to focus on the possible positive outcomes or to focus on the possible negative outcomes.

Wanna make a bet? As you embark on the uncertain situations of your life, I am willing to bet this– If you choose to focus on the positive possibilities, yes, there is a chance you will fail. There is a small chance that sometimes things will not work out the way you think they will. But if you choose to focus on the negative possibilities? Friend I promise, there is a greater chance that they never will.

Today, be careful to consider situation from every angle, but then focus on the positive. Don’t dwell on the potential negative. And you will be amazed at all you are able to accomplish…