Have you ever been somewhere with a friend and they do something that might be considered socially unacceptable? Perhaps they burst into song or talked too loudly. Maybe they acted ugly about the service they received at a restaurant and you wanted to crawl under the table and die.
Those particular situations don’t happen in my family very often but this sort of behavior does ALL THE TIME.
Jason and I took Nora to the doctor on Friday and had to wait a little too long. Jason got bored and decided to put his “medical knowledge” to use.
Needless to say, I was HORRIFIED as he picked up each instrument and proceeded with his “examination.”
He noticed irritation and drainage.
Any minute the door was bound to open. My heart was racing as I documented the fun. I was amused and fearful.
Good doctors ALWAYS wash their hands after an exam is over. After a thorough washing, Jason proceeded to explore the cabinets. He’s always opened the drawers at doctor’s visits but never actually played with what he found like he did this time.
Thankfully he only picked the blood pressure cuff up and put it right back.
I had a choice to freak out and be mad about what was happening around me or accept it for what it was and let him be responsible for his actions. I could’ve huffed and puffed and been angry, but that would’ve only stressed me out. This is one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned from the What One Person Can Do program that has saved me a great deal of stress over the years. The ONLY thing I can control is HOW I CHOOSE TO BE in the world. I can’t control my nutty husband. All I can control is my reaction.
I wouldn’t go back and undo one moment of this experience. Nora enjoyed the whole thing thoroughly.
We could hear the doctor and a difficult patient in the room next to us, so Jason was telling Nora that they’d be able to hear us too and to keep quiet.
A bio-hazard bag may or may not have made its way into Jason’s right pocket. I’m not advocating any of this. I’m just reporting the facts.
As the fun was drawing to a close, Nora said, “It’s time to Buddy The Elf this cotton ball.”
What a fun girl! I’m extremely thankful the doctor didn’t walk in on any of this because after dealing with the cranky guy in the next room, she was NOT in a good mood when she walked into ours.
In all situations we have a choice. Have you ever noticed the moment that you chose to react in a certain way to people or circumstances that happen to you?
I’m really mindful of my choices now. I remember choosing to get out my phone and start snapping the insanity instead of freaking out about it.
I am mindful EACH time I decide to react angrily towards whichever child is disobeying my instruction to do A, B, or C. I choose calm or anger. I have the thought to say angry words and whether I’ll say them or not. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t. My kids don’t “make” me do it. Their behavior doesn’t make me yell. I choose it.
My husband wouldn’t have made me react angrily to his actions. I would have chosen to. I’m so glad I chose to be laid back this particular day and just enjoy the chaos that is my family.
Giving up the idea that I can control other people and recognizing my choices more often are 2 of the many practical and powerful tools found in What One Person Can Do. If YOU are ready to experience more peace and less struggle, I’d LOVE to personally go through this program with YOU.
This program/conversation has been conducted in schools, corporations, prisons, and one on one with the program’s founder, Bill Cumming, and other program conveners for 30 years. Space is EXTREMELY limited for anyone wishing to go through this with me. I only have room to work with 10 women, so click HERE to contact me (or Bill) with questions and to grab your spot.
There’s also an online version of the program available HERE. It’s an incredibly affordable option. 12 weeks of support for what 1 hour of counseling would cost! But…and I know this firsthand, even reasonably priced is not an option sometimes, so don’t write this off. Partial and full scholarships are available for those that need them and are serious about going through the work for both the online and one on one programs.
Wishing you all the peace and happiness your heart can hold,
Sarah
