power in positivity

We all open up differently to each person we interact with in our lives. Every time I return to my home town I run into friends and family. Inevitably people will ask "how have you been?" For those closer friends that I haven't talked to in a while my response typically looks a lot like this: 

I take in a deep breath, sigh, and look painfully into their eyes while shaking my head and slumping my shoulders. My friends have come to understand this as "I've been so overwhelmed, I don't even know where to begin." Recently I've been adding "I'm so glad to be done with this academic year!"

 One friend last week said "I feel like this is how you are every time." "This year has been the legitimate worst," I assured him and added a head nod to affirm his statement. We didn't discuss the mundane details but hit on one or two large things. I was sure not to dwell on those negatives though and it wasn't hard for us to talk about what has been or may be good in our lives.

A good friend of mine from this past year has been a really great at teaching me to focus my energy on the positive things happening with and around my life. I would run into him on campus or on the bus and start spewing all the negatives. It never took him long to tell me that I was making him depressed then ask me to share something good that was happening. He never asked me to pretend these hard things weren't truths or realities, but he rather shifted my perspective from one of pain to one of joy and the recognition of it's presence in my life. I recall so many times when the two of us were talking and the atmosphere shifted as soon as I began speaking about good or exciting things. A weight was lifted from my body and the conversation (as well as the remainder of my day) became more cheery.

All of our experiences play a part in the formation of who we are. Our perspective on those experiences shapes our character. My high school javelin coach was the first person to spark in my mind a recognition of the affects of positive versus negative speech. Instead of saying what you're not going to do, tell me what you are going to do. I think of him every time my afform encouraged my to speak of good or happy things, I also thought about my coach and his encouragement to do the same. In honor of these two men who have greatly impacted my world, I would like to share with you just a few of the things that made this past semester so good.

My parents got to visit my sister abroad where she had been working and living! (And I got to become acquainted with a new airport 😉) No one had gotten the chance to go visit her yet, so this was exciting for us all!

I learned that Pittsburgh, PA, is still enjoyable even when concussed. Truly, I love the city of Pittsburgh and when I got my concussion I was frustrated, but the right people can make any condition better :)

Even without practicing, traveling, or competing in the Springtime, I got to be a part of this squad for another season. My teammates have been a much greater support system than even they know. 5 of the 9 in this photo have been my team since college track day one. I am truly blessed to have been surrounded by awesome people in my sport of choice. It's a wonder they even kept me around this long 😜

God has given me a new best friend. I wasn't initially planning to live with my current roommates, but I have found one of my closest friends because of this arrangement and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm so grateful for the people in my life who encourage and empower me to live life with a perspective of positivity and hope :)