On Sunny Lane: Don't Be Discouraged

Last week I went to the library to get started on a project I’ve been wanting to do for a couple of years.

It was a rainy day, so it put me in the mood to do an inside task and thus get started.

When I got to the door of the library—lo, and behold—I discovered it was closed because of the holiday. Silly me. I knew it was a holiday, but the thought never entered my mind that any businesses or other public buildings would be closed.

So, I decided to go to the local charitable organization to drop off some food donations and—lo, and behold—it was closed for the holiday. Since I was not celebrating the holiday, I was feeling pretty discouraged and disappointed.

When I am discouraged and disappointed, my first instinct is to reach for a piece of chocolate—especially dark chocolate. However, as I was on my way home, I came to the new thrift store and decided to stop in.

I came across a cute little waffle maker and decided to buy it. I decided to buy it for Sweetheart and make him waffles for breakfast on Father’s Day. I did just that and Sweetheart loved it.

The next Monday I decided to try my luck at the library again. Lo, and behold! It was closed again. How could I forget that it is closed on Mondays? Once again, I was discouraged and disappointed.

Once again, there was no chocolate available, so I went to the hair salon and got a haircut. 

It doesn’t take much for a person to become discouraged and disappointed. When we make plans, we don’t always think of the consequences, or of any roadblocks that may come up along the way. A friend once told me, “If you want to make God laugh, just start making plans.”

The funny thing is that those roadblocks we dread so much can actually be stepping stones to an outcome that is sometimes better than what you had planned and better than what you could have imagined.

Sometimes what we consider a roadblock is really a blessing in disguise. So, don’t be discouraged and disappointed—at least, not for long.

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Dorothy is the author of two books—“Miles and Miracles” and “Getting It All Together “. You can purchase a book or send a comment by emailing her at dorothybutzknight@gmail.com