“Make your lives a masterpiece, you only get one canvas.” -E.A. Bucchianeri
I love this quote. Make your lives a masterpiece…what a spectacular thought. William Hazlet said, “The art of life is to know how to enjoy a little and to endure much.” This reminds me of another quote, written by Paul after enduring prison time for preaching the gospel. He said, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
None of us want to suffer, but hardship and humanity have long been companions. I know what it is to be low and to choose joy over sadness. I know what it means to choose strength in fearful situations. These moments are never easy, but I remind myself that I am never alone. God is with me and is my never-yielding source of joy and courage.
Viktor Frankl and Wayne Waddell are among many stories of people who have lost everything and instead of giving up, they took control of the one thing they had left.
These people took authority over their minds and hearts; then in extreme hardship found the peace of God. The man who can curate his own gratitude, joy and peace is a powerful man. Gratitude is not a feeling, but a choice we must make. There is always something to be thankful for.
The yellow car theory suggests that what we think about, we see more of. I believe this is true. Your brain is searching for proof of what you choose to hold as your belief system. Confirmation bias is the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories. Your brain will highlight everything that confirms what you choose to believe. Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinketh so is he.” We are shaping the world around us with our thoughts and our words.
Your life is your canvas, and you are the artist. You may not always be able to control the circumstances, but you can certainly control your response. We don’t learn to enjoy little with the intention of only ever having little. We curate gratitude so that we experience joy regardless of our social, financial, or health status. I have found that there is always something to be thankful for.
At the end of my life, I want to know that I didn’t miss out on the little moments because I was too busy pining for moments of grandeur. I want to leave this world joyfully knowing that I relished every possible experience with God, my love, my children, and my grandchildren. I want the tapestry of my life to be so colorful and vibrant that my family cannot help but smile when they remember me. I intend to live life masterfully…
“Grateful people are like fertile fields.
They give back what they receive tenfold.”
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