Rough Week Therapy

Boy, I won't say that I've had the worst week ever, but it's been rough. (My friend Trish had to put her dog down this past weekend, so she definitely wins the worst week title.)

My personal life has been fine, which is what saved it for me a little, but I'm definitely exhausted from work situations. And yet, that's not what I'm here to write about right now. Right now, we're going to talk about how things become better.

There are lots of things that improve my mood: Adam, kitty bellies, ice cream, good music, time passing, talking it out.

But you know what works better than anything else? Prayer and remembering to keep things in perspective. There's nothing like feeling stressed out and actually remembering to ask God to please help me to stay calm and be at peace with whatever happens, knowing that he's in control and that even if bad things happen, they will help me grow and I won't go through them alone.

Sorry to get all preachy on you. I've just had a really tiring week.

And it seems like even though I almost always feel like I don't do enough to deserve God's forgiveness or assistance, when I actually do look for some help, he is never absent.

I'm basically just sitting at my desk, waiting for this week to be over finally, knowing that I only have to come in two days next week before my vacation begins. I'm worn out, frustrated and a little numb.

So I popped in my earbuds and pulled up my music to see what I felt like listening to. I apparently had Switchfoot playing last, whenever that was, so I backed up and did a shuffle of all of my Switchfoot tracks.

Which, by the way, is basically 15+ years' and 7 albums' worth of songs.

And wouldn't you know it, just like always, since back in high school, Jon Foreman's voice and lyrics spoke right to me. 

It wasn't a particular song.

(Although Company Car seemed kind of fitting. Remembering that life isn't about how much money you make or how successful you appear to other people. In the midst of work issues, that was a good reminder.)

It was just the reminder that God is in control. Putting everything back into perspective. Remembering to praise God for who he is and thank him for all that I have.

There's nothing like lifting up your voice and your hands (figuratively of course ... that would be weird at the office) to return a bit of peace to your mind and spirit.

And, as an added bonus, I found out that I missed an album Switchfoot put out last year, so I purchased that and am going to enjoy giving it a listen this afternoon while I wait for the clock to hit 5.