Fortunately, I'm a fairly laid back gal and so it's not too often that I find myself in this position. However, this is something I have been struggling with over the past few weeks. I found myself in a situation where I was having to spend a lot of time with someone who I found pretty exasperating to be around.
At first, I had a bitterness inside me and would go in to each day thinking 'I wonder what they are going to do to drive me bonkers today' and 'I wonder how many times I'm going to have to bite my tongue today'. This really wasn't a nice feeling.
As a Christian, I do my best to love everyone - not just those who I find easy to love. I asked God to show me how to love this person (because I was finding it damn hard) and I felt him challenge me to do at least one nice thing for them, everyday.
Now, I'll level with ya... I definitely haven't managed to do this everyday. Some days there has been an appropriate opportunity to do something really nice, other days it's just been offering up a compliment.
What it definitely has done is massively alter my perspective. Instead of approaching the day with a negative outlook, I have instead been focused on what my 'nice thing' for the day could be. I have been more aware of my thoughts and have actively tried to change them from mean ones to kinder ones.
Now, the poor soul in question is of course oblivious to this whole thing, but it is definitely helping me to cope! I love this quote from Nelson Mandela which says:
"Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies".This is so true. Hatred, resentment - even irritation - only affect you. What is the point? They can't actually change your situation. I do however believe that love can. Love softens you and can transform even the most broken of relationships.
Please don't think I am trying to preach here... I still find this very hard! I'm working on it every single day and have plenty of moments where I have to take a deep breath and try not to react. I also often come home and rant to my poor housemate, Kate. She really does take one for the team.
This isn't easy, and it's something we will all go through in our life times. We can't always choose who we spend time with and we certainly don't get to choose whether we like them. What we do have some level of control over is whether or not we throttle them lol.
Do you have any pearls of wisdom on this topic? If you do, please leave a comment and share this with the rest of us!
On a different note... I am now coming to the end of my half term break and am getting my brain in gear to head back to placement on Monday. Half term has been great - I got to go home and spend time with family and friends. What hasn't been so great is that I've been ill for most of it! I think I'm just run down from the first few weeks of placement and a cold has decided to take this opportunity to come at me like a tonne of bricks. I am currently a delightful bundle of phlegm and fatigue.
When my energy levels are this low (it's taking everything I have just to type and I reckon it will be lights out at 9pm) I get myself really worked up that it's M.E making a re-appearance. I know that worrying about this is absolutely not helpful but, alas, here we are. If you believe in prayer then a lil prayer for peace and energy for me right now would be very much appreciated!
Many thanks for reading and lots of love,
Katie xxx
