Me: “I’ve had a long day, Sammy.”

 

My daughter (at age 10): “Acutally – all of your days are the same length, Mother.

It is just your perception that is changing.”

 

Good morning! One day in 2005, I arrived home from my office wiped out. The week had been relentlessly hectic and challenging, both personally and professionally. Sammy, who was 10 at the time, ran to greet me. She was not challenge-wrought. She was speaking excitedly with each sentence hitting a higher octave than the one before. Quickly, she rattled off an ambitious list of things she wanted to do in the few hours before bed.

“I’ve had a long day, Sammy.”

She replied with the simple sentence I shared as today’s quote: “Actually, all of your days are the same length, Mother. It is just your perception that is changing.”

As she skipped off toward the kitchen, I couldn’t help but smile. My daughter seems to have inherited a similar interest in how people think, what people think, and why they think as they do. And in this instance, her 10-year-old mind was very much on target. My day couldn’t have been any longer than the one before, or the one that would come next. My perception of what was within that day was overwhelming me – not the day itself.

Her words reminded me that my preception of life, not life itself, was the source of my trouble. Instead of dwelling, I quickly adapted my thinking. Instead of being “wiped out” by the day, I decided to appreciate all I had accomplished emotionally and professionally during the day. (And to go to bed early and get a good night’s sleep!) I then went and found Sam and asked her what she wanted to do first from her list.

Your Turn:
On your “tough days” appreciate all you have faced and accomplished. Reward yourself with a positive thought and a bit of extra self-attention and care.

 

 

Your affirmation:

 

 

“Nothing is either good or bad – but our thinking makes it so…” (Shakespeare)

I choose to think in ways that support and uplift me.