Fortune Cookie Friday: Making the Best of It

There are times in our lives that we feel like the world is working against us. We struggle with work, school, or other aspects of life. During these times, we have a choice to make. Do we grovel in our misery or find a way to improve our situation?

I recently had to make this choice myself. Even now, as I write this post, I am suffering from a badly injured knee. My attempt at learning to ski during the holidays didn’t go as I planned. Now I find myself unable to drive, stuck in a chair, and questioning how I will handle the next few months of immobility.

When my injury first occurred on the snowy slope, I was happy I didn’t break any bones. I made off the hill and into the care of my loving family, but the thought of possible knee surgery and hobbling around on crutches for months on end made me a little depressed.

Then, I read today’s fortune. I realized that my injury didn’t affect my hands or my head. I can still work, and the powers that be gave me a reason to sit down and get some work done. I may have to depend on others to get me to where I want to go, but I can also help others.

I can entertain or inform them by writing my posts or books. I can read books and write reviews on them—my fellow authors love getting reviews. Most importantly, I am now available to catch up with friends. Since I’m not running errands around town, I can talk with my besties on the phone. I can be there to hear their woes and give them kind words and support, even though my knee can’t support me.

In the hardest of times, we can be the strongest of allies for others. Even if we have not experienced what others are going through, we can sympathize with their worries. When we take the time to help others, we end up making ourselves feel better in the process.

Many times our problems pale in comparison with those of other people. Helping them puts our troubles into perspective. We can also find solutions to whatever is bothering us when we put it aside for a moment and focus on someone else.

Life will throw a few punches our way, but we can make the best of it by focusing on what we can do for ourselves and others in our life.