Hey, Toots

I realize this is an odd title; allow me to explain.

I know I'm not the only one who finds it easier to focus on what's wrong.

Bias towards the negative is a tough habit to break.

I can glance around the room I am in right now, look straight past everything I should be grateful for, and hone in on what's missing or needs fixing.

One area I tend to lean negatively toward is my childhood. I can tell long stories of all the bad memories with great detail and emotion.

But what about the good stuff? Those memories are harder to recall.

Is it just me who finds it harder to remember the happy times?

Stress and trauma connect so deeply to our emotions that they leave a permanent bookmark in our life stories.

We can easily skip over all the good stuff to get to the bad parts.

As I thought about this, a beautiful childhood memory popped out of nowhere for me.

I could almost hear my Mom say, "Hey, Toots."

I haven't thought about that for years.

Hold on, I need a tissue; I'll be right back.

Okay, so anyway, "Hey Toots" was what my Mom used to say when she was especially sweet and affectionate.

That beautiful sound I heard when she uttered those words made me feel loved and cherished when I was little.

I felt all of that again just now.

And that feeling of love allowed other wonderful memories to flood in.

I remember holding hands and cuddling with my Mom at church, eating day-old stovetop popcorn for breakfast, listening to the radio that was always playing from the top of our refrigerator, and trying to figure out what word my sister was trying to spell as she "wrote" on my back with her finger.

Hold on, I need to get another tissue.

Here's my point.

It wasn't all bad.

It's not all bad.

It won't be that bad.

Sometimes, we must force ourselves to look for the positive and find the good in our past, present, and future.

As I look at the picture for today's post, I feel love and gratitude for the good memories.

My Mom and sister have both passed, and I know they are with me right now; pleased to be a part of this post today as they whisper the memories of the good times we had together.

Hold on, I need to get another tissue.

All of this reminds me that I don't want to skip over the good stuff or miss out on all I can be grateful for here and now and all I can hope for in the future.

Thank you, Mom, for the "Hey Toots" reminder today.

I needed it.

What can you find to be grateful for today?

Push past the problems, the worries, the if-only, and the what-ifs, and find the beauty and happiness on the pages of your journey you typically glance over.

Because, Toots, that's where the good stuff is.

Thank You, God, for this beautiful life you have given us.

Psalm 42:5

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 30: 11-12

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.