I was having a great conversation with my grandson yesterday. I had picked him up from the bus stop and was bringing him back to my house for the afternoon. On the route there’s one stoplight that can be a little, well annoying. On the way TO the bus stop I need to turn left. There’s a left turn signal but it’s REALLY short. Like you’re lucky to get 3 cars through on a good day short. And because it’s a 5 point intersection (who thinks of these things anyway??), if you miss the left turn signal, then you have to wait what feels like forever to get the green again.
It's the same way on the way back. Except on the way back I have to turn right at the stoplight. But it’s “no turn on red” because you know - 5 point intersection. Really, who thinks of these things? And it’s the same thing. If you’re lucky you might get 3 cars through on a good day. If not, then you’re stuck while all the other lanes (and some of them have left turn lights) take their turn through the cycles. And then the light seems too LONG.
So, we’re heading home and my grandson says, “maybe we should take the turn before the stoplight since the stoplight is too short”. My grandson is super smart. It was a great thought. You have to wind your way around little side streets, but you don’t have to wait for the light to change.
But what that comment really did was open up a great conversation with him about perspective. Depending on which way you’re going and what your desired outcome is, the exact same stoplight can give you polar opposite thoughts and feelings. If you miss the signal and have to wait for the light to cycle around to you again, then it feels like you’re waiting forever and the light seems really LONG. But if you’re trying to get through the light before it turns red and only a couple of cars can get through, the light seems really SHORT. It’s all about perspective.
So, my encouragement for you today is look at situations in your life that may be causing you to feel anxious, worried or scared. Or maybe you have a problem at work or at home and you just can’t seem to find the solution. Or maybe you’re just having a down day and you just can’t see the way up. Look at those things and remember that perspective can change everything. Because when you look at things from a different angle, from that new perspective you can suddenly see the other side. The bright side. And the beauty is that you can change your life, and change it for the better just by changing the way you look at it.