LIFE

I’ve read that good blogs have a main theme, also known as a reason for readers to follow the blog.

My blog theme is the vicissitudes of life.

Vicissitude has long been a word that fascinates me.  I remember being a teenager sitting in a Bible study that occurred in a brown faux wood paneled room in a crumbling old church building.  That was the first day I heard the word vicissitude–and that word has stuck with me for many years since.

I don’t remember the Bible passage that day.  I don’t remember the context or who else was in the room.  I simply remember learning that vicissitude means change, constant ups and downs.  When paired with “of life”, then the phrase “vicissitudes of life” means the ups and downs of life, or the continuously changing life.  Turns out whoever put that Bible study together was giving us wisdom and warning that life will continuously change so don’t be surprised.

From that young day forward I expected that there would be ups and downs in my life; good times and bad times, ongoing changes that require me to adapt.  Good mental coping habits have come from learning this phrase.

That phrase has served me well at work and in jobs that require acceptance of moving in a new direction quickly.  In fact, I believe knowing that phrase early in life helped me be promoted in jobs.

I was not surprised by ups and downs in our marriage.  And that phrase has helped me through phases our kids have gone through, knowing that we can work through and talk through their (and my) behaviors and actions.

That phrase has helped me know that some friendships come and go while a few friendships stay long term.  I could give you example after example of times when big changes happened and although I may have been nervous or scared; in the back of my mind I knew that whatever was occurring was part of life, the ups and downs.

We all cope with the vicissitudes of life.  You know the people in your world who cope well and those who struggle mightily.  Of course there are a few crisis times (death, illness, etc.) when coping is the most difficult.  I don’t have great answers for those times other than to encourage and love one another always.  Plus I’m all for seeking time with a good therapist when needed!

My hope is that during those inevitable times when coping is hardest that I can look back on the everyday ups and downs and be glad that I didn’t sweat the ordinary days with ordinary ups and downs.  My hope is to value each day of life.  I don’t want to regret how I spend the gift of time on this earth.  Let’s have some fun and not stress out so much.

All the above to say:  my blog is meant to encourage you during your own vicissitudes of life.

Each of us only have one life and one today.  I can see the number of people who look at this blog (isn’t technology cool!?) and I am committed to praying for you and thanking you for reading.

May your life be blessed & may you be encouraged,

Glenna