March 5, 2011 "Just One of those days" Entry

Sometimes there are those days in which all you can say is, “Oh, it’s just one of those days.”  We leave it in the other person’s court to either ask about us or make their own assumptions as to our somewhat ambiguous statement.  I’ve asked myself why so many of us just drop those words as if we were waiting or expecting another to figure out how we really are or are we seeking for a definitive answer that’ll fit our day’s puzzling status. Are we looking for pity or are already feeling self-pity?

All day it’s been “one of those days” for me and it made me chuckle that the first thing a friend asked me when he heard my less than chipper voice was, “is it just one of those days?”  Gee!  We can really make a cliche out of anything if we say it often enough! 

My first tendency is to preach to myself and try to do the Norman Vincent Peale thing, “positive thinking.”   There are so many new formulas, ideas, practices, life design coaches, anti-depressants, vitamins, minerals, combinations of therapies and so on and so on.

I’ve probably turned to most of these, literally! Does one work better than the other?  Good question.  Depends on what kind of day you’re having – to an extent. 

I do know what doesn’t work for me though, and that seems to clear away some of the mental fog.  The number one thing that definitely seems to keep me there in that dark foxhole is kidding myself I’m not there!  The quicker I accept how I’m feeling without analyzing and dissecting myself, trying to figure it all out, which, in my case, only provokes self-guilt and self-anger toward myself, [which without a doubt digs a deeper hole to sit in and actually makes me believe those lies!]  So, I’ve learned to accept that its just one of those days, I’ve named them my “PD days--“Preparatory Days.”  I know they’re usually preparing me toward a higher mountain, clearer skies, better understanding of self, others and God.

The second thing that doesn’t help is comparing myself to others!  Especially Jesus even if that sounds sort of contradictory when we are daily seeking, desiring and making choices to be more like Him.   However, I found two very comforting scripture verses that help me put my not being like Him yet. 

• Enos 1:12

And it came to pass that after I had prayed and labored with all diligence, the Lord said unto me: I will grant unto thee according to thy desires, because of thy faith.

• Ether 3:2

O Lord, thou hast said that we must be encompassed about by the floods. Now behold, O Lord, and do not be angry with thy servant because of his weakness before thee; for we know that thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are unworthy before thee; because of the fall our natures have become evil continually; nevertheless, O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive according to our desires.

As I study these words by men, though prophets, were still very much human {like you and I}, I keep{ feeling} the sweet voice of the Spirit whispering “ according to thy desires,” “receive according to our desires.”  Automatically, my flabby faith is strengthened. I begin realizing, again, that I may not be like Him today but He’s taking into account my desires. And these will also bless me to get to where I ultimately want to reach.

The third thing that absolutely never pulls me up and out of “just one of those days” is focusing on myself! I’m not sure how some can actually live like the world revolves around them when we are dependant on another for just about everything even that of toilet paper! My turning away from my self draws me like a magnet toward some thing or some one other, whether it’s a hobby, serving another, developing a talent, doing something you’ve been putting off because it’s just “one of those days.”

Next time you, too, find your-self having one of those days you can’t really define, try some of these “Don’t’s” and you, too, might discover a sweet bright pink blossom on your window sill or a beautiful smiling picture on your wall that might needs dusting, or a tune you suddenly hear yourself humming that sounds like “When you wish upon a star.”