Does that phrase mean anything to you? It wouldn't have to me before but I heard this analogy on one of Sheri Dew's cd's with Wendy Nelson. I really, really like it!
The gist? When you turn a corner, really turn a corner, you can't see where you came from any more. You know where you've been but you can't see it. Turning a corner has the essence of the Atonement wrapped up in it.
Really turning a corner takes the Atonement at work in our lives. It takes us forgiving ourselves too.
In pondering this past year I realized that I have lived on excuses instead of reasons most of the time.
I can't do that because...
that's hard to do because...
i wish i could but...
sorry i had to...
i didn't mean for it to...
I don't know what I was doing the other day when this thought came. Do I regret everything I did or didn't do this last year? Definitely not. It is just that when I was thinking about how I want to live and quite frankly, need to live, I realized I used excuses too much. Excusing myself instead of accepting responsibility for my actions and responding with intent or purpose is not how I want to live. It shows vision when we say no because of a reason instead of an excuse and it doesn't feel like the same thing either.
Today for example. It is FREEZING outside. I decided I needed to go for a walk....I have a headache. I could sleep. All the kids are gone. I told myself I would go for a walk today and quite frankly it has been a while since I have done anything in the form of exercise. Live on the excuse or the reason?
I walked! I was seriously cold, but I DID IT! I also still got a nap when Josh napped! Win, win!
I have a lot to learn but one thing is for sure, when we realize we want to change something, that is already a step in the right direction. Forgiving ourselves for not doing it before is another step in the right direction. All these things work together to help us remember the past but not feel haunted by it. We can turn a corner and know that there are good things to come!...because there are!!!
The gist? When you turn a corner, really turn a corner, you can't see where you came from any more. You know where you've been but you can't see it. Turning a corner has the essence of the Atonement wrapped up in it.
Really turning a corner takes the Atonement at work in our lives. It takes us forgiving ourselves too.
In pondering this past year I realized that I have lived on excuses instead of reasons most of the time.
I can't do that because...
that's hard to do because...
i wish i could but...
sorry i had to...
i didn't mean for it to...
I don't know what I was doing the other day when this thought came. Do I regret everything I did or didn't do this last year? Definitely not. It is just that when I was thinking about how I want to live and quite frankly, need to live, I realized I used excuses too much. Excusing myself instead of accepting responsibility for my actions and responding with intent or purpose is not how I want to live. It shows vision when we say no because of a reason instead of an excuse and it doesn't feel like the same thing either.
Today for example. It is FREEZING outside. I decided I needed to go for a walk....I have a headache. I could sleep. All the kids are gone. I told myself I would go for a walk today and quite frankly it has been a while since I have done anything in the form of exercise. Live on the excuse or the reason?
I walked! I was seriously cold, but I DID IT! I also still got a nap when Josh napped! Win, win!
I have a lot to learn but one thing is for sure, when we realize we want to change something, that is already a step in the right direction. Forgiving ourselves for not doing it before is another step in the right direction. All these things work together to help us remember the past but not feel haunted by it. We can turn a corner and know that there are good things to come!...because there are!!!
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