What are the things that you tell yourself? What are the things you say to yourself when you look in the mirror, you whisper in the early morning hours, or remind yourself of when you are in the car? What about the truisms that you turn to when you just need the reminder that you CAN get through the day, get through the thing, come out of the valley and begin to trek up the mountain?

I have some. They have been with me over the past few years and seem to pop up right when I need them. If you have been around me for a time, I’ve shared some of them so they will be familiar. But I think they bear repeating because these words and phrases stand the test of time.

Some folks refer to mantras. In the South we have Sayins. Call them what you like.

It Is What It Is.

This one began when our family dynamic began to change with my dad’s illness that lead my parent moving from our hometown to Macon, Ga, where my brother lived, for additional health care. (My dad had a serious heart attack at age 53 and a heart transplant at 58. After many good years, things began to change and he began having complications from his medications). After some health scares and a fall, it was best to get assisted living care for a while. During this time, my mom also had some health issues that, at a particular time, had my dad and my mother both in the same hospital, one floor apart. I remember sitting with my brother, Mike, listening to both sets of doctors tell us diagnoses and instructions for both parents. We basically looked at each other and said, “it is what it is”. And that was that. Sometimes, you have to know that things are the way they are. You have a hand dealt to deal with.

At certain times the best thing you can do is accept what you have right now, where you are, not rant and rail and fight it, but make your next plan to move forward.

It’s All About the Stories

My brother, Mike, was all about the stories and was a great storyteller. He could turn a normal, mundane trip to the Kroger into a story! But, this was particularly true during one summer. Our family had our annual family beach trip ahead and we were driving down in a convoy that consisted of My husband and two youngest sons in one car, I was driving our oldest son in his truck, my brother was behind in his truck, with my nephew, hauling his boat (The Sea Possum), and my sister in law brought up the rear with my mother in her car.

I won’t bore you with all the unbelievable details of this trip down, but the highlight was when I was slowing down to stop at a red light, when the truck behind us totally rammed right into us, spewing his truckload of Gatorades all over the road, and causing the police, firetruck and sheriff in Waycross, Ga to come to our rescue. Don’t think the family convoy didn’t immediately show up to “help”. One of the things that had to happen was my brother having to use a heavy chain (he just happened to have in his truck) to attach to an 150 year old oak tree, in the barber shop parking lot, to pull out the tailgate of my son’s rammed truck, to make it driveable, and the fireman having to rescue me after I, embarrassingly, passed out on the sidewalk (in my defense, it was at least 110 degrees outside) . . . there are more details but you get the idea!

When we finally arrived at the beach, after much drama, we could only say, It’s all about the Stories!

We still remind ourselves that all of those ridiculous, frustrating and unbelievable circumstances that life seems to scatter around, make for good stories.

Don’t Let It Steal Your Joy

I’ve been saying this one for years. In fact, my middle son told me recently that he remembered one night while we were having a normal family dinner that our oldest son was sharing something that happened at school. I don’t remember those details, but I’m sure it was the typical school drama from those Junior High/middle school years. He remembered my listening and trying to put it in perspective by telling my oldest to not let that small thing steal his joy. I continually tell myself this same advice when dealing with grouchy folks, traffic, broken glass, plumbing issues, disappointments, and alllllll of those life things that try to get you.

At Least I’m Not Throwing Up

You know about this one if you read this. If you haven’t here it is.

It’s a good one too!

Put Your Big Girl Panties On. . or for the men, Just Buck Up

This is another one that came out of my being a mother of three active and involved boys. I was known to tell them to “buck up”. I was also the daughter of parents whom I loved and who depended on me to be there, to help, to make decisions, to do hard things as their life changed due to health reasons. My dad died in 2011 and my brother died in 2012. My mother’s health began to dramatically decline. It was a hard time. I had to put on my big girl panties quite a few times.

A few years later, I remember being in the kitchen during Christmastime. It was a hard time for our family. As a mama I was trying to be encouraging (and likely doing it completely wrong) when talking with my middle son. He made the comment, “I know mom, it’s like you always say, and our football coach says, we have to buck up.”

I’m not sure this is always the best advice, but sometimes it is all we can do and just what we need to do.

It’ll Be Okay

I think this one began when I might have been at my most afraid. My most uncertain. But I kept telling myself that no matter what happened, we would be okay. I made this promise to my boys, even when I was not quite sure what would happen, but I knew if I said it and believed it, it would be okay. And even if things didn’t turn out the way we wanted or the way we had planned, it would be okay. Things would be okay.

And this leads me to the best and ultimate mantra, sayin’, prayer or whatever you want to call it.

Lord, Help Me.

Oftentimes this is the only thing that escapes my lips as my feet hit the floor. And it helps. And He helps.

So there. That’s all and I don’t’ think you need an explanation on this one.

I’d Love to hear yours. I always learn from your comments and replies! I’m sure as we enter new seasons we will gather new sayings and mantras. Maybe I can adopt one of yours. . .

AND I have TWO Gifts coming your way this month. I hope you stay tuned for them!