Right now, comparison might be winning. We are spending the majority of our time in our homes with the primary connection to the outside world living in the box that is in our hands: our phones.
We are watching, from both the comfort and discomfort of our couches, how others are thriving and surviving through this quarantine. Social media influence couldn’t be higher.
It’s so easy to focus on what is missing rather than what’s there. What we don’t have as opposed to what we do have. For Leah, getting creative with what she has, not what she doesn’t have, has been a truth she’s lived her entire life. We could all learn a bit from this.
What comes to mind is a moment that we had together in early February. We were on a sister outing, and after we Blockbuster’d our way around the library (that visit Leah checked out The Brady Bunch Season 7…to put your curious mind at ease…), we ventured into Target. Leah had a gift card and was excited for the opportunity to shop.
Leah doesn’t drive. We wrote about that many moons ago. This is a decision our family feels content and confident in, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a tough truth to swallow. She can’t simply transport herself to Target when she gets the shopping itch. Also, she doesn’t have a surplus of income. Because of this, gift cards are golden tickets in her eyes.
On that day, she had the opportunity not only to find herself at the glory that is Target, but she also had money to spend. Jackpot.
We walked in, and the first thing she said was, “I’m thinking maybe I can find a picture frame to give to mom for her birthday.” Here she was, presented with the chance to shop, and her first thought was to buy something for someone else.
She was embracing the moment. Celebrating what she did have, rather than focus on what she didn’t. Getting creative.
Leah’s always been an excellent gift giver. Singing performances that honor birthdays, anniversaries…you name it. She may not be able to get herself to Target for that picture frame, but that never stopped her from finding a way to give a stellar present.
A few aisles down, we came across the kids section where she spotted a Buzz Lightyear toy. “Oh! I thinking maybe I can to give this to James.” Our nephew James loves Buzz. Once again, she wanted to use her gift card for others.
There’s something magical that happens when you start focusing on what you have rather than what’s missing. You begin to awaken to all that you’ve already got. The longing for more begins to loosen its grip.
And those things we still don’t have? That’s when it’s our time to get creative. This is something we all have witnessed during the pandemic that we are in: drive-by engagement parades, parking lot birthday parties, all of the zoom hangs.
This week, let’s wake up to all that we have. Let’s get creative with what we’ve been given. There are chances to do this all around us, we just have to embrace them…to infinity and beyond.
Here’s to turning our minds Upside Down.
