Life is full of different events, moods, and circumstances. Sometimes we’re happy, other times sad. We may even get depressed here and there. I believe that each of us goes through a variety of emotions as we live day to day, week to week, and year to year. It is this which I wish to talk about and hopefully generate some perspective on. I hope by reading that you will better be able to put into perspective your lives and further orient yourself towards happiness.

There is a weather map here.  As you can see on the weather map, there are ‘fronts’ displayed on the United States, Canada, and Mexico.  There are cold fronts (the blue lines with triangles) and warm fronts (the red lines with circles).  Cold fronts are masses of cooler and dryer air.  Warm fronts are masses of warmer air.  The effects of a warm front can mean warmer and nicer weather, while a cold front can bring a drop in temperature with uncomfortable effects.  Both warm and cold fronts play a large role in the weather we experience each and every day.

I would like to talk about each of our lives as we experience shifts in weather as it pertains to our situations, state of being, and perspective.  I believe there are many ‘fronts’ we each experience and understanding and properly interpreting them is a key for understanding and getting through life in a positive manner.

Warm Fronts

There are times in life when the weather seems perfect.  Everything is going well.  Perhaps you just got your dream job and are making lots of money.  Maybe you just won a basketball game that you worked hard for.  Or maybe you just met the man/woman of your dreams and nothing could be better.  Take a moment and really think about your life and all the good things that have happened.  I hope that this takes a while and that you’ve been blessed with many good things.  Think about how good you felt during those good things.  Now let me share with you a few things about this.

While wonderful things are happening, take a look at one constant thing - yourself and a perspective of yourself and others.  Even though things may be good for you, others may be in a worse off position.  How thankful are you at that time for your health, success, and happiness?  Look at what has brought on the wonderful things in your life.  Even take time to see that if some of the things that appear to be good are actually disguised or covering up something that is bad.  It’s very easy to be on ‘cloud 9′ or in a euphoric state during wonderful things.  While I am not advocating not getting excited, I recommend to you to always keep a sense of realism and understanding, no matter how good things seem to be going.  Always keep yourself in check and be happy with what you have, but never content.

Cold Fronts

Sometimes in life, the weather gets gloomy, the cold sets in, and things just seem to be off.  Take a moment and think about your life.  Think about some of the negative things that have happened.  I don’t mean for you to dwell on these things, but it is important to realize them.  Perhaps you’ve had a nasty divorce or two.  Maybe you just lost a great job.  Or you lost the basketball game you worked so hard for.  Maybe your health is suffering.  There are a slew of things that can go wrong in life.

Again, take a look at yourself when things are going wrong.  I have no doubt that most people can figure out how things went wrong.  Maybe you were not assertive or educated enough while at a job interview, which cost you a job.  Perhaps you have been neglecting your spouse and they have grown distant from you.  Whatever the turmoil is, there is a reason it is there.  And you can most often look at yourself to see why it is there.  Keep a level head and maintain happiness even when things are gloomy.  I myself am in a ‘cold front’ right now (as of Aug. 21 2008).  I don’t have a full time job, money is very tight, and my wife’s insurance is about up.  I am doing the best I can to rectify this situation.

Maintaining Perspective

I spent a couple years in Ireland many years ago from 1997 - 1999.  I was there on a service mission for church.  My family paid for this.  Not only that, I spent many days in the rain, getting drenched as I went around trying to help other people.  At around the age of 20, it was very hard for me to keep perspective.  Trudging around in the rain just plain sucked!  Many years later, it is now funny how I love to be in the rain for long periods of time!

The perspective to have here is that even things which appear awful or gloomy in life, may not be so.  I hurt my left hand in high school during basketball season.  At first I was very frustrated.  It was my left hand and I am left handed.  However, after a few weeks, I had used my right hand so much, that I gained some skill using my right hand.  Being able to use both hands in basketball is a very beneficial skill.  There is a saying that it is always darkest before the dawn.  I do believe that when challenges are hitting and things are going rough, that this is the storm that must be weathered until the calm arrives and great things start happening. I will not be surprised if the things in my life which are rough right now turn into some wonderful things happening in the months ahead.

The same calm and optimistic demeanor that is necessary during bad times must also be had during the good times.  I am convinced that the more we can keep the same composure when things are going good or bad, the more we will have perspective and be able to handle any situation.  Whether you have millions of dollars and a happy family, or you are struggling to make ends meet, take a look at yourself.  Be thankful - understand the good and bad.  Do what you can to correct the bad things in your life.  I know that with faith, determination, and patience, that life can be managed, endured, learned from, and ultimately prosperous.