Whenever my friends come to me for advice about any sort of
decision they make, I always have one reaction: Write it down. This is usually
followed by 5-10 more minutes of them verbally working through the topic that's
dancing around in their head before I repeat it one more time. Write it down.
If you can get it out of your head and start to visually sort through what's on
your mind, you no longer have to try and jungle all of the thoughts in your
mind. (This is the same reason I like to make lists...as soon as it's on the
list it is out of my head.)
Sometimes
it's hard to follow our own advice. Solutions seem crystal clear when they're
someone else's problems. As soon as we're left to our own devices things that
are crystal clear become clear as mud. Because now emotions are involved, which
end up clouding our judgement and decision making process. I can't tell you how
many times I've looked at a situation that I'm involved in and thought,
"Jeez Andrea, this isn't a hard decision. Just (insert the easy logical
clear cut solution here)." Except then the emotions sit there and play
devil's advocate. "But Andrea, (insert emotionally clouded judgment here)
makes a huge difference."
Now
as someone who is fairly artistic/musical and fairly in tune with her
emotions (melodramatic only when necessary) I constantly run a balance of
using my head and using my heart. The ultimate romantic in me sometimes will
force me to lead with my heart, but I’ve never met anyone who died from loving
too much, so as long as I can still keep it fairly in check I figure I’m not
causing any serious permanent damage. So…not totally unfamiliar territory for
me, but it usually doesn’t ever help the decision making process.
So now here I sit. Not that I have a huge, epic decision to make or anything,
but more so that I feel like I’m all over the emotional map. Which is
exhausting. But it’s time to listen to my own advice. Write it down.
Don’t worry, I’m not going to splash ALL of my thoughts all over
for the world read. (*See yesterday’s
blog post about the world of overshare.) That’s a date for me and my
notebook tonight after the Ingrid
Michaelson concert. But I will say this…
God puts you where he needs you to be, when he needs you to be
there. Consequently, the people are in your life are in your life because they’re
supposed to be there. So whatever happens in your life happens is happening for
a reason. So today, I’m thankful for everyone in my life. Whatever role you
play…if you’re my Twitter friend, if you’re my lovebucket friend, if you’re my
family friend, if you’re my Facebook friend, if you’re my work friend, if you’re
a friend of a friend, if you’re my best friend…I’m thankful that you’re in my
life and making me who I am today, and who I will be tomorrow.
That’s enough for today. Tomorrow we’ll try and keep it lighter.
=)
Live, laugh, love,
Andrea
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