It seems as if my life has been a series of valleys. You know, the times when nothing seems to go right or the luck seems to run out? I used to sit around and wonder, "Why does everything always happen to me?" or "What did I do to deserve this?" I've come to understand that the valleys that occur and the pain that comes with each one really has nothing to do with me. They don't happen because I am who I am. No one sits around and thinks, "Hm...I think I'll dole out some extra bad stuff because it's Yolanda." Things just happen. That's a part of life.

I used to wallow in the pain. It hasn't been that long ago either. I read somewhere that you have to wallow, become completely emersed in pain, before you can accept it or surrender to it. I wallowed a lot. I suffered a lot.

I still have days when I wallow. Who doesn't enjoy a good pity party from time to time? : ) But I soon discovered that pity parties rarely include other people. There is only room for one. Misery may, in deed, love company but it's rare that company comes. I'm learning to do gratitude lists when things are bad. It helps me keep my perspective. Yeah, things can get bad but it can always be worse.

I guess that sounds a lot like Pollyanna. Truth is, I hope it does. I think Pollyanna was onto something. If you look for the bad, you'll find it; or put another way, if you choose to suffer through something that is your option. If you look for the good, you'll find it, too. Why would you want the bad when you can have the good? Just a thought.