Photo by AnnaMaria Donnoli on Wikimedia Commons

Day 16: Something difficult about your “lot in life” and how you’re working to overcome it

Ugh. I’ve been thinking about this particular prompt since I first previewed the Story of My Life Challenge back in May, and in three months, I still don’t have an answer I can type with a clear conscience.

It’s not that my life has been a perfect cakewalk since I emerged from the womb. There’ve been trials and tribulations in the past four decades…I moved (changed schools, left friends) often as a child…I live with two chronic auto-immune diseases…my dad died way too soon…my relationship with my brother is nonexistent and I don’t know why. But I cannot whine and moan “poor me” about any of these things.

I wouldn’t go so far as to use the cliché that they are actually blessings in disguise, but they do all put into perspective the true richness of my life. Moving taught me to adapt to and appreciate new environments, new situations, new people, new customs. Having somewhat imperfect health has made thankful for modern medicine, has made me value all the body parts that work as they should, and has spurred me to be more proactive in maintaining a healthy lifestyle than I might have been otherwise. Losing my dad…well, it’s harder to pin down any bright side to that, but I am so very grateful to still have my mom. Losing Dad painfully illustrated that we’re not guaranteed any tomorrows—I can’t take for granted any of the time I have with my loved ones. The loss of the bond my brother and I once had hurts, but my hubby came with four siblings who have helped to fill that gap by welcoming me warmly into their family.

I honestly can’t complain about my lot in life. My life has been no harder than anyone else’s, and is very likely richer than many. If I choose to look at less-than-ideal circumstances and events in my life as burdens, I risk becoming a bitter, ungrateful old hag. I much prefer to keep my sunny side up, to take the good and the bad with equal grace, and to keep the whining to a minimum.

Nothing to complain about, brought to you by Jenni’s blog-every-day challenge at Story of My Life.