Don't Let the Bad Days Win

Well, it's been a while. I've been busy. I have had an underlying theme to the end of September and beginning of October - failure. I have been feeling like a failure a lot because in all honesty, I'm overcommitted and I don't have enough time to do everything I need to, so I end up cutting corners. I'm working on it. But the truth is, the days I have where I feel like I'm failing - a horrible friend, a horrible coworker, a horrible Christian, a horrible sister, daughter, whatever - I'm really not. The word failure means "lack of success." You can have small failures. You can fail to get your homework done, fail to clean your house, fail to attend that important appointment or coffee date you promised to be there for. But guess what? You can't fail life. If you - or I, in this case - are truly failing in relationships, work, school, anything, that means you have to have a total lack of success. Fortunately, since our stories aren't written yet, you can rewrite your failures, whether perceived or real, as successes in the future. Don't you ever give up, because that is when you have truly failed.

Today I didn't feel like trying. I'm in the middle of a diminishing friendship, and it's hard, and my emotions are everywhere, but ultimately I think that this is a good thing. I looked back on my actions and words, and realized that I didn't change. The only thing that did was this friend's attitude and values, and that the reason we were growing apart is that we couldn't stay together at such varying stages. I think that if we do have a falling out, it will be for the better. That doesn't mean I stopped trying to cultivate a relationship, or that I stopped being nice, it just means I have not compromised my personality, values, outlook, or behavior while attempting to gain back our relationship.

So here's what you need to realize if you feel like your failing in any aspect of life:

• Have you made someone smile today, even just once? That's a success.
• Have you smiled today, even once? That's a success.
• Has someone been kind to you today? Little things like smiles, hugs, holding the door open or asking you how you're doing, matter. 
• Have you crossed something off your to-do list?
• Have you had a positive conversation with someone?
• Have you learned something new?
• Have you done something you enjoy?

There are many other things not on this list. But if you crossed one thing off that list, your day is a success. Life isn't a TV show, you aren't going to have large successes like a job promotion or a new relationship every day. The small but positive things count, and you can't say you've failed unless you have done absolutely nothing positive, encouraging, or healthy all day. 

Today wasn't a bad day. It just wasn't the best. Yet I made someone smile, I smiled, I laughed, someone held the door open for me, my mom asked me how I was doing and got a genuine response, then took me to a bookstore, which is always a pick-me-up for me. I have an adorable cat that ran to me for snuggles when I came home. I have some baby bunnies that were born a week ago today on my birthday (that's a different story, but it was a little miracle that I believe was a birthday present from my God). I have a few real friends that I adore. I have a Savior Who will never let me down no matter how many times I let him down, no matter how many mistakes I make. He's the one Who will never leave me, the Friend I'll never have issues with, because when I mess up, I can ask for forgiveness and He'll wrap me in His arms and pick me up off the floor, putting wings to my feet, a smile on my face and consuming joy in my heart. 

I promise that you didn't have a bad day. There may have been some bad things, but I bet there were good things too, no matter how minute. Rejoice in the positive, don't dwell on the negative. Be kind to others, but never forget to be kind to yourself. Tomorrow will be better because you have the power to make it a good day.