I've been thinking about feelings this morning. The older I get, the more I'm learning that it is okay to "feel" certain ways about things. As I've grown, I am realizing more and more that our feelings are based on our experiences. Too often, people get concerned because others don't "feel" the same way they do about certain things. For instance...I used to get upset when people didn't "feel" the passion I do for the Kyrie Foundation. I didn't understand how someone couldn't be moved the way I was moved when I heard the statistics for children's pediatric cancer. However...I've learned that people "feel" moved by their own passions based on their experiences. It makes perfect sense as I reflect.
Friendships and relationships sometimes end over a difference of feelings. We think too hard about how we should feel about something when we are missing the idea of feelings altogether. Our feelings are simply that. Ours. We feel about things because it is what we think. I've seen my children and my students try to feel differently about something to be accepted or to be understood. When the truth is..we feel what we feel. We over think how we should feel when all we should be thinking about is how we are going to react and respond to our feelings. If something makes us happy...we should be happy. We should have the opportunity to feel and BE happy. If something makes us mad...we should have the opportunity to feel and BE mad. (I know Coach is shaking his head right now because I get upset when he gets mad about anything.) If something brings us to tears or moves us to action...we should have the opportunity to cry or be moved to action because it is what we feel. AND THEN...we shouldn't judge others because it isn't the way they feel about it.
If I can teach my students and my children something about how they feel...it's that they have their feelings and others have theirs based on what they've been through. You have to allow yourself to feel what you feel and then decided what you'll make of those feelings. How will you respond? What will you learn? And how will you affect the lives of others by your thoughts, actions, and words?
It's okay to surrender to your feelings. God makes us the way we are. We are all unique. Our make-up...our experiences...our feelings. They are all ours. Don't let someone's feelings hinder a relationship. Understand that their feelings are theirs just as yours are your own.
On an end note...I went on a field trip with Little yesterday. I'm afraid of birds based on an experience from my childhood. Go ahead...laugh it up. I didn't go near the bird cage and I saw pictorial evidence of why this was a good idea. Birds were actually landing on children. I would have been a mess. (Remember...these are my feelings...and stop laughing). I did however spend a great deal of time with a giraffe who I shall call Sophie. She and I became instant friends when I took a selfie with her and let Little touch her sweet face. My sister and I are in the works of purchasing our own Giraffe. I'll keep you posted on how that goes. For now...we are off to two football games. Have a great day!
Referee of
