when life gives you lemons

when life gives you lemons…

I lived in Maine for 3 years almost to the day I left. and while I have some wonderfully traumatic events that consumed me, I also have some incredibly simple, beautiful, isolated moments.

I want to share a short story with you. one I hope you can take with you and share with others. one that will give you a new perspective on your own possibilities.

one day, toward the end of winter, I was walking into work. at the time I lived only a quick seven-minute walk. although on days like this, it may have taken closer to twelve while I shuffled over black ice and glided through slush lining the uneven brick across Portland’s streets.

if you have never been to Portland, you should go. it is a beautiful little city. (I say little because the main part of the city is about a mile across.) my favorite time of year is fall – but nowhere I have been yet beats the New England fall leaves so I am a little biased.

I digress.

in the heart of this small city is monument square. dressed with a beautiful Christmas tree, decorative lights, and mother natures natural ambiance. surrounded by several local restaurants and café’s and while not my favorite street of Portland, I did have the pleasure of passing through it every morning.

I was working at a gym as the operations assistant and group fitness coordinator and was also the opener – so I was there around 5/5:30 Monday through Friday morning. needless to say, my walks were freezing cold on pre, middle of, and post winter days (because winters in Maine last 6 months).

I was never nervous walking alone that early. some days I had peaks of anxiety because of the homeless population. the rational part of me, never thought I would ever be attacked or approached. but the anxiety ridden part of me well… she could come alive real fast.

on this one particular morning, there were actually two people in the square, which was far more than normal at five in the morning on a winter day. I struggled to scurry past quick enough to avoid comments or interactions with the people there – I will admit, there is a piece of me that feels a little shallow and like a terrible person for those thoughts. but I also believe it is natural to be on edge.

except I was stopped.

the stop wasn’t more than several seconds but it was enough to stir my heart and my mind.

this woman who had been rummaging through a garbage bin had been talking to herself. as I was making my way past, head down, alarms up, her words became more clear.

she stopped me more with her words than with the actual intent to stop me and said:

when life gives you lemons, what do you do?

and after a very short pause, I continued on to get to work. but I went with those words locked in my mind.

I was startled, stunned, shocked, but most of all - I was moved.

I don’t remember what exactly was going on in my life at that point, but I know that I had been struggling with something, most likely in my relationship, at the time. so when this woman asked this simple question, it made me dig into myself deeper than I had been willing to go.

scared to make moves and make changes, and not recognizing the opportunities lain all around me, I was stagnant and stuck in my life. I would say unfortunately, but we don’t believe in unfortunate events here, instead we relish in those moments and embrace them as learning moments. however it did take me a couple years to grasp onto the meaning of that question and how it would impact my life. how today it is a question I often find myself coming back to in order to reconnect with my life.

see the phrase

when life gives you lemons, make lemonade

has the implication to mean that when you are handed a gift or opportunity, turn it into the potential of what it could be.

I on the other hand, now have a different thought on that. why make lemonade, when I can take those lemons and make something so much greater. why stop at the easy option and instead go further. why not see more potential and more opportunity within what those lemons hold.

when I am blessed with gifts in this life, which happens to be every day, I do more than make lemonade. I build on those lemons, I use them as a foundation to boost myself further and make advances in all areas of my life: career, family, friends, hopes, dreams… you get the point.

I don’t sit in stagnation anymore. do I linger sometimes? absolutely. I am after all, only human. but I am a human who is willing to change and grow into someone that will do more with the life I’ve been given so that I can give back to others.

so next time you find yourself handed something that you weren’t expecting. handed more time. more work. more opportunities. more ideas. more grace. more love.

 

I ask you:

what will you do?

love always,

Riss