So I have a 15-year-old. If you have ever had one or been one, you can imagine that it’s not always sunshine and rainbows at our house.
The last two months have been challenging, with quite a few slammed doors, several days spent not talking, maybe a screaming match (or two or three or sixteen)…
Yesterday was particularly challenging. I don’t want to give up too much info on my daughter, but let’s just say we took her phone away and the rest of the day we only spoke when necessary.
I did, as the “grown-up” in the relationship, make a little bit of effort to warm things up as the day went on. But she wouldn’t budge.
Then today she (kinda-sorta) asked me to go for a run with her. (Her lack of running has been a big part of the tension in our house.)
At the end of our run (after she kicked my ass in a sprint across the field) I took this picture for my daily exercise post. I knew asking her for a sweaty selfie with me was out of the question and didn’t want to undo any goodwill we had established.
When I posted I realized the picture I chose to take was kind of symbolic. (Or am I reaching here??)
One little question on her part shifted this day in a different direction.
We talked the entire time. She talked a lot more than I did. It felt healing and repairing.
I know we will fight again. Maybe even today! But in the meantime, I am enjoying our camaraderie. I am heartened to know that even when it feels so bad, there is a chance to change direction.
And I’m feeling the shift in the rest of my traffic…It’s all turning.
Yesterday I was stressed and worried and I allowed my thoughts to run amok. About everything.
Today, largely because my teenager-y teenager asked me to run with her, I turned direction. And now I feel more positive about everything else. (It doesn’t even matter that she probably only asked me because she didn’t have anyone else to ask or because a bear has been hanging around lately.)
So, my little takeaway for today is:
- Even when things feel really crappy, even when at the moment it all just sucks, it can turn around.
- One small thing can change the direction of all your traffic.
I’m studying A Course in Miracles and it defines a miracle as a shift in perspective. We are so much more in control of our thoughts (and our happiness) than we think. It often just takes a shift.
Have you experienced a shift- in your thoughts or your mood? I’d love to hear from you! You can comment here, e-mail me (mary@stayathomefit.com), or visit me on Facebook or Instagram.
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