Change the I to E – From Bitter to Better

You can be bitter or you can be better – Anonymous

Oh how many times have I read and spoken these words to myself – you can be bitter or you can be better.

When news coverage of police shootings remind me that I am the mother of boys, I tell myself – you can be bitter or you can be better.

When school shootings seem to become the new normal and prevention can’t seem to stop the occurrences, I tell myself – you can be bitter or you can be better.

When children are being taken away from their parents and locked away, I tell myself – you can be bitter or you can be better.

When my son disclosed that he was being billed at school aftercare, I told myself – you can be bitter or you can be better. But I had to reframe that quote to make it applicable to not just me but also my children – you can be bitter or you can be better, make the choice which you will be and ask God to help you.

When it seemed that things couldn’t possibly get worse and they did, I told myself – you can be bitter or you can be better. I choose to be better and God I need you to help me get there.

When my parents were hit by a car while trying to deal with my dad’s cancer, I had to tell myself – you can be bitter or you can be better.

When the millennial members of my family were having to cope with the feelings associated with being fired while trying to be adults- you can be bitter or you can be better. God will get you there.

Better is what I am striving to be as I want to be a better wife, daughter, mother, sister and the list goes on. The last year has taught me the power and benefit of a personal affirmation. You see there will be times when things are spinning so fast and hard that you can’t tell the top from the bottom, having this quote helped me focus and it reminded me that my higher power would take care of me. And do you know what, he did.

I am getting better.

My millennial family is getting better.

My parents are getting better.

My focus towards my goals is getting better.

You can be bitter or you can be better. I choose better. I choose to be ready for things that can happen in this unpredictable thing called life. My daughter’s high school friend talked with us today regarding his business – that 22 year old man had figured out what took me years to know. He doesn’t want to work for other people when he could work just as hard if not harder for hisself. He chose to be better – business plan written and designs patented. He is being better.

Today, what will you choose? Will you be bitter or better? The choice is yours.

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