tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87928028131541607212024-03-05T01:41:34.549-08:00The ProcessALJacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15213622642289722783noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792802813154160721.post-71880491475631772982015-08-20T20:54:00.005-07:002015-08-20T20:54:59.066-07:00When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Lemonade<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">How
many times have you heard this saying, “When Life Hands You Lemons, Make
Lemonade?” How often do you actually apply it to your life? If you have applied
it, was your lemonade bitter or sweet? Yes, I have so many questions. Questions
about life. See, here’s the thing, I love me some sweet lemonade. You know the
fresh squeezed kind they sell at Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Shop… Mmmmm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I don’t like much of anything that
is bitter: fruits, candy, pastries, or people. Yes, the last word in the
previous sentence is people. People. People. People. Some people choose to be
bitter. Let’s pause for a moment to research the definition of bitter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">bitter
(adjective): having a strong and often unpleasant flavor, opposite of sweet,
causing painful emotions, angry, unhappy because of unfair treatment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The above definitions were found in
the Webster’s dictionary. There were several definitions, but I’ve chosen to
just stop at this one. It’s short and compacted with a lot of information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>First, it states that bitter is having
a strong and often unpleasant flavor. Who wants to eat something that’s
describe in this way? It doesn’t just have an unpleasant flavor, but the flavor
is strong, like a lemon or lime. Some of us enjoy eating lemons and limes. Do
we enjoy the company of a bitter person? A person that always (never failing)
has something negative to say. They’re always complaining. They’re always upset
about something. Their car was scratched by somebody’s door, then a bird pooped
on their window shield. Blah Blah Blah. Okay, maybe you don’t mind being around
this type of person or maybe it’s you. Your nagging bestfriend (or maybe it’s
you) is (are) a dark storm cloud clouding someone’s thoughts. You’re usually
not happy with your decisions in life and you want everyone to know and be
unhappy with you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Secondly, it states that bitter is
the opposite of sweet. This type of person is just not nice to anyone. They’re
mean, nasty, cruel, and they’re okay with the way they are. The most disturbing
thing about this person’s personality is he/she doesn’t believe they hurt
others with their bitterness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Next, there’s the person that causes
painful emotions; okay here’s where my life falls into the story. I’ve recently
had a bouncing baby boy (he’s 7 months old now)! The father of my child decided
to be single and he’s okay with his child being raised by a single mother (I’ll
blog about that later). Needless to say, it caused me so much pain, which in
turned has caused painful emotions in my mind/heart that have been difficult to
let go (I’m working on those). I’m learning to reprogram my thinking. I’m
changing thoughts I’ve had since I was a little girl. To be honest, I don’t
work hard for me, I work hard for my son. I don’t want my son to be taught
these painful emotions. Currently, writing this blog post is giving me FREEDOM
from those painful emotions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then there’s the definition of
anger. Bitter = Anger. I’ve dealt with anger very often in my life. In my work
place, my students maybe angry. While at home, Christian (my son) may get
angry. And (I am aware I shouldn’t start a sentence with a conjunction) there’s
me. . . I get angry! I get angry in traffic. I get angry at my son’s father (a
lot!). I even get angry at God. Yes, I said it! I was extremely angry when I
got pregnant. Surprise!! Many people saw me and thought I was the happiest
pregnant woman they’ve ever meet. Many people see my son and say, “You must
have been really happy while pregnant with him.” Well, maybe I was happy more
than angry during my pregnancy, but I had a lot to be angry and happy about.
For one, my students at work kept me extremely happy. The work place was my
escape place. Believe it or not. I knew his (Christian’s) father couldn’t
bother me there. My thoughts of him were gone once I entered that place. My
mind and heart were focused on my students. I was often angry when my thoughts
had time to wander. Mostly, while at home alone, or driving home. I had time to
get angry. I had time to make him angry also. I also had time to cause him
pain. . . which I only did because he hurt me. Yes, those were the thoughts
going through my heart and mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That brings me to the last
definition, bitter is being unhappy because of unfair treatment. I felt that
God had dealt me an unfair life. Not in regards to getting pregnant, but by getting
pregnant by a particular person. Yes, I know I had to have sex to get pregnant.
But . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Why him?” or “Why Me, God?”
(A later blog post title.) I had a lot of “Why” questions for God. Has He
answered them all??? Mmmmm I would say, “no”. Although, He hasn’t answered
them, but He is slowly showing me my answers. I’m dealing with the lemons in my
life. I’m coping with the bitterness in life. Am I accepting bitterness to take
control over me? No. I am learning how to control my bitterness/anger. I am
learning how to make some sweet lemonade out of sour lemons. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Simple
things I do to stay under control: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Think
positive. Think positive. Think positive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Ask
for help. If it’s extreme, I have to pray. I have to vent to God. </span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Vent
to someone nice, someone I can trust. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Try
my best to let it go and control my thinking. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Read,
watch a funny movie, do something to make me relax my mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
ALJacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15213622642289722783noreply@blogger.com0