Did you ever read the book "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff"? Many years ago a girlfriend that I worked with gave me a copy of this little book. It was a quick and easy read and a book that I have recommended to others. The thought that motivated the writer was as simple as the title read, "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff". Well I don't know about you but sometimes that is easier said than done!
During my journey to a new me I find myself "sweating" or worrying over the silliest things.
Why is this? Why would I start to sweat it now that I am getting my health back? I should have been "sweating" it when I was at my all time high weight, not now that I am working so hard to make my 100 pounds lost in one year goal!
Sweating the small stuff to me means to put way too much importance on things that don't really matter too much in the long run. I remember when we adopted our two children, Will and Pam. When they came to live with us Will was
12 1/2 years old and his sister Pam was 7, soon to be 8 years old.
Some say we were very courageous to adopt two children at the same time. They had been brought up in the foster care system of Georgia. By the time they came to live with us they had already lived in five other foster homes. And to top that, one year before we adopted them another family had adopted them. You are probably wondering how we got them if some other family had adopted them, right? Well after 8 months of "trying to make it work" the other adoptive family contacted the State of Georgia Department of Family and Children Services and told them that "this just was not working out for them and they wanted to "return" the children!"
Okay, I know this news probably made some of you spill your coffee or other beverage but this is EXACTLY how it happened. Well you know what I have to say about that? I am GLAD that they could not "make it work" because we have been blessed with two children because of their decision! We are so thankful that they were "sweating the small stuff" and decided to return the children, like some return clothes or other items purchased at the store.
Now back to my statement, "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff"; after all that we went through to adopt our children I can honestly say that we had to learn to not sweat the small stuff. The journey to adopt our children was an uphill battle but we stayed the course. Even after the children came to be a part of our family we had to learn to not sweat the small stuff. Adjustments had to be made because for 11 1/2 years my husband and I only had each other to worry about, but now we had two adolescent children to raise.
We adopted our children over sixteen years ago but it still seems like it happened only yesterday. I look back at pictures of the four of us and see that we were a family from the very beginning. All the reflecting on the past has made me apprediate all that we have gone through. I have decided that on my journey to a new me I see no reason to sweat the small stuff, and from the viewpoint that I have from here, it is ALL small stuff!
During my journey to a new me I find myself "sweating" or worrying over the silliest things.
Why is this? Why would I start to sweat it now that I am getting my health back? I should have been "sweating" it when I was at my all time high weight, not now that I am working so hard to make my 100 pounds lost in one year goal!
Sweating the small stuff to me means to put way too much importance on things that don't really matter too much in the long run. I remember when we adopted our two children, Will and Pam. When they came to live with us Will was
12 1/2 years old and his sister Pam was 7, soon to be 8 years old.
 |
| Adoption Celebration Party (Back Row: Kathy & Kevin, Front Row: Pam & Will) Feb. 2005 |
 |
| Pam & Will Christmas '2007 |
Now back to my statement, "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff"; after all that we went through to adopt our children I can honestly say that we had to learn to not sweat the small stuff. The journey to adopt our children was an uphill battle but we stayed the course. Even after the children came to be a part of our family we had to learn to not sweat the small stuff. Adjustments had to be made because for 11 1/2 years my husband and I only had each other to worry about, but now we had two adolescent children to raise.
We adopted our children over sixteen years ago but it still seems like it happened only yesterday. I look back at pictures of the four of us and see that we were a family from the very beginning. All the reflecting on the past has made me apprediate all that we have gone through. I have decided that on my journey to a new me I see no reason to sweat the small stuff, and from the viewpoint that I have from here, it is ALL small stuff!
 |
| Christmas '2007 (Kevin, Me, Pam & Will) I think it is time to take a new family photo. Don't you? |
No comments:
Post a Comment