Tuesday, September 1, 2009

What if I'm not in the mood for lemonade

when life hands me lemons?

I’m not in the mood for a lemon tart, lemon bars, or lemon soufflés (even though I plan on trying a new recipe for those next week).

Where did that saying come from anyway? When life hands you lemons make lemonade? How come it doesn’t go, when life hands you lemons AND sugar make lemonade. What if you don’t already have any sugar? Who wants to drink sour lemonade? Is that the point in the saying? When life hands you lemons be thankful you can make lemonade and have something to drink even though it’s sour?

I know this goes against the cheerful nature of my blog, but I’m in a funk... can we still be friends? Maybe by the end of this post I’ll find some cheerfulness…

Am I the only one that ever thinks life is unfair? Come on, I can’t be the only one. I think I probably bugged some of my high school teachers, because I was the fair police. I had many teachers tell me I should be a lawyer. I was always reasoning with them and telling them that certain things were unfair or not right. One teacher was like, “hasn’t anyone ever told you life isn’t fair?” I replied, “life may not be fair, but it isn’t fair that you just let her do that and now you aren’t going to let him do the same thing, that ISN’T fair.” He rolled his eyes, and said, “You should be a lawyer.” But, he also totally let the other person do what he had just told them "no" to.

I know this post totally goes against trying to be like my mother. I used to tell her often, “it’s just not fair, why you?” “Why not me?” was always her reply. I know she would tell me to count my blessings right now, and look for the good things. But, you know how sometimes you aren’t in the mood to do that? But, I know that's when I need to do it the most. Whenever I have tried to count my blessings, I start a list and I get like four things on the list, and then stop, I really think it’s annoying (if you know me, you know I would have put the 'r' word there, but I’m trying to be better). I mean I know I have more than four blessings, of course… I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but I guess I am. I know I have had a pretty easy, great life, but am I not allowed to be frustrated with life sometimes? Ugh.

Basically, I need to count my blessings, which will help me live with the fact that life’s not fair, right? Or at least help me focus on my blessings and be able to ignore what I don’t think is fair.

Let’s see…

1. I have a good husband
2. I have really cute kids
3. I have some good friends
4. I have a house to live in
5. …

Okay.

I’ll work on it.

3 comments:

jen said...

you are allowed to wallow in misery every now and then, though. it's healthy for you! don't worry so much about trying to force yourself to be sunshiney and cheerful all the time. if you feel like a particular situation really sucks, then say so. Scream it out!
And, maybe check out this book by Barbara Ehrenreich when it comes to your library.
"Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America"
Although, I guess if you read it and fall in line with her thinking, we won't have your blog anymore!

becky said...

Why are we so in the same mood right now? Holly, I'm sorry the sunshine seems hidden behind the clouds right now. I'm with you there.

Here's to looking for the sugar! xoxo

Holly said...

Jen, Oh, I scream it out... maybe a little too loud. :) and, I am totally going to check out that book! :)

Becky, hope you found some sunshine today maybe while making an offer...?