Who Deserves Blame?

Yesterday, the wonderful ladies at Craft Girl Squared asked me to share a list of the things/ people for which I am thankful.

The more I think about it, the more I want to go on a slight tangent. It has a lot to do with gratitude, but it has even more to do with where we place our emotions.

Have you ever been so mad at someone cutting you off in traffic you could barely see straight? Would the circumstances, in your mind, alter at all if that riduculous woman who endangered your car had her only child in the back seat vomitting and screaming and the only thing she could think was, "Please let us get to the hospital in time. Please, just hold on, Baby! Please, let them know what's wrong with my Baby this time?"

We may never see the logic behind choices others make every day. Does that vacate our bouts of righteous fury? Should we be forgiven for our annoyance, or is there another choice?

Don't get me wrong. I'm in no way suggesting that I wouldn't have heartily cussed when feeling my personal safety was threatened. But I would have let go of it. As soon as she was safely in my lane, I would have imagined the million reasons why I had done a simliar thing: fear, a sense of dire urgency, simple absent-mindedness. I would have sighed, wished we both made better choices, and gone on with my day.

Holding on to anger is a good way to destroy any potential for a beautiful day. Anger is a throw-away emotion in a lot of cases. Yes, there are moments for anger. But moments pass. Think of all the relationships you could have lost out on forging if you held on to anger. How hard is it to be the best parts of yourself when you're angry? Reminding yourself that so much of this life is built on spiderweb-thin relationships might help the embers of frustration burn out.

I know life isn't easy right now. Life is rarely easy for anyone, and when the world insists on being difficult, surrendering has so many wonderful charms. Giving up, nodding in agreement when the world says your dreams can't happen, can be reassuring. At least it isn't your fault. You have a list of factors outside the things you've done, you've tried, you've fought to make your life the way you want. It's obvious that the world just doesn't want you to win.

I want you to win. I am cheering you on. You deserve to succeed. I know that you do. You've fought so hard to get where you are! With all I have, I support your dream. Please don't give up. Don't take the easy way. Nothing worth having is easy. Have your moments, have your doubts and your bouts of disappointment. They help. They'll fuel the fight to get the life you deserve.

But remember: I'm here, and I want you to win.