Why I Try Not to Sweat the Small Stuff

For a little change of pace, I'm writing a positive blog entry today (I know, try not to fall off your chair in shock). Of course, being me, it comes from being annoyed, but I promise if you stick with me, you'll get to the good part. 

Recently I've been exposed to people who sweat small stuff which annoys the shit out of me.  My philosophy is that life is serious and hard and complicated.  We don't need to make it more serious, hard or complicated through anxiety or making mountains out of molehills.  I've had a few life lessons that have contributed to that philosophy, but my greatest teacher in life so far has been this guy: 

 

This is my nephew.  My nephew is my hero, my inspiration, and the person who keeps a smile on my face no matter what is going on in my life.  When my sister-in-law was pregnant with this little man, she and my brother were told there was no chance he would survive gestation because he had no amniotic fluid.  Despite those odds, my brother and sister-in-law's faith sustained him and he survived.  He (and his twin sister, my darling niece) was born three months early and within his first few months he had blood transfusions, heart surgery, eye surgery, and foot surgery.  He had lung issues and was on oxygen for over a year.  He had two club feet, his hips were dislocated and he had hernias--all of which required surgery.  The mountains of problems this sweet little baby faced seemed insurmountable.

He faced each of these challenges with a smile on his face.  No matter how uncomfortable he must have been, or how much pain he probably was in, his spirit always soared.  Even now as he learns how to walk, speak and do all the things toddlers do, he always has a sweet smile on his face and a song to sing (ok maybe it's LMFAO, but it's a song and it counts!).   

Brynn teaches me every day that no challenge is too great to overcome, that no period is so dark that you can't be a little positive during it, and that all our petty differences with others, our frustrations with work or school, our little coughs and colds or whatever are no big deal.  Life is made up of serious situations, but life only becomes serious when we stop smiling and laughing.  He's taught me that feeling sorry for one's self is a learned behavior, it's not innate.  If we all had even a fraction of Brynn's spirit, we'd complain a lot less and have a lot more fun, despite life's challenges.  So let's give it our best, shall we?