• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Crossroads Professional Counseling

Christian Counseling | Baton Rouge + Prairieville

Providing Professional Christian Counseling and Coaching to the Baton Rouge and surrounding areas.

225-341-4147
  • Home
  • Christian Counseling
    • Marriage
    • Individual
    • Family
    • Children and Teenagers
  • Life Coaching
  • Coaching Programs
    • Life by Design Program
    • Career By Design Program
  • Blog
  • About Us
    • Sue J. Miley LPC, MA, MBA
    • Suzanne K. Jones, LPC, MA
    • Cheryl Brodnax, LPC, M.A., M.B.A., M.S.
  • Contact Us

This Is Me Trying

August 6, 2020 By Sue Miley 1 Comment

Hi! Thanks for visiting! To make life easier, you may want to subscribe free to my Email feed. !

this is me trying

Have you ever read the title of a book or song and resonated with it? Even before you read or heard the words.  This Is Me Trying is a new Taylor Swift song from her quarantine-produced album, “Folklore”.  I can’t tell you the lyrics, but I like the title.  A million scenarios play through my mind.  Some are mine, and others from family, friends, and clients.

Life can be hard and the best we can do sometimes is to try.

But if we are honest, even when we try, doesn’t it feel like no one even notices?  Don’t you feel like you need to wear a sign around your neck?

This is me trying.

When you have been cooped up in the house for months, gained a few pounds, and feel self-conscious, your spouse comments on your wardrobe of sweatpants and pajama bottoms.  Hasn’t he noticed the Zoom exercise classes, the daily salads, and that you ordered from Amazon a colorful array of new sweatpants?

This is me trying.

I put signs up on the doors requesting masks in the lobby and office halls.  I provided masks and sanitizer.  I doubled up on office cleaning and sent staff home if someone didn’t feel good or even knew someone who didn’t.  Still, some ignore the signs and do what they want.  I field the complaints and double down printing colorful signs and asking people to put on a mask.

This is me trying.

The kids are home all day.  His wife is a nurse and working full-time.  He tries to keep the kids occupied productively.  No sitting home watching videos all day.  He takes them to the park.  They drive through Chick-fil-A, who was out of the youngest’s favorite sauce.  He picks up curbside groceries and gets everyone and everything home.  And yes, he makes dinner.  As his wife opens the door, he looks around.  He feels caught red-handed.  The kids wouldn’t play quietly so he finally put on a show for them.  And no they have not had a bath, and the laundry is still in the dryer.

This is me trying.

Lord, I know you are the one in control.  I know that I need to not freak out every time I have a sniffle or cough.  I know I need to be patient.  Everyone is struggling right now.  I realize that we all need to make a few sacrifices and do things that we don’t want to.  I know that much of this is not in my control.  I know I should stay focused on you, the Bible, and other positive or productive activities, rather than listen or read all of the negative fear-inducing news or political hate being spouted out from every corner.  I am praying daily.  I am watching church.  I am listening to meditation apps.  I try to limit my time on Facebook.

Lord, more than anyone, you know….

This is me trying.

It isn’t just in difficult worldwide pandemics or war.  Before COVID and after, the world is made up of a lot of humans trying to do good.  Trying to do better.  We don’t want to:

  • Cause ourselves health problems from inattentiveness.
  • Cause friction and conflict because we don’t say the right thing.
  • Let others down because our actions just didn’t measure up.

And, we hope that others know and understand, that we are trying.

Perception is Stronger Than Reality

Unfortunately, there is a little thing called perception.  People’s perception is powerful.  We can change in reality, but most of the time perception lags.  Change, improvement, better, must happen for a long-time before it is believed. 

When we know we are trying and no-one around us recognizes it, the natural instinct is to want to give up.  To say, nothing I do changes your opinion anyway, why bother.  We give up before the effort becomes the new normal.

Where Is The Grace?

We need a little grace.  Right?  If people would recognize our efforts, and be more supportive, I could do this.

But, maybe we need to offer a little grace, to get some back. 

Maybe in the hectic, crazy world we all live in, the “others” in our lives are too busy “trying” in their own right, to notice us trying.  Maybe life is so hard for them that their lens is focused on what you are doing that is NOT helping them to do the things they are “trying” to do.  Maybe a little grace looks like you explaining what you are trying to do, rather than just hoping that someone notices. 

Good Intentions Provide Hope

Maybe if our “others” at least know we are trying, our intention to do better will give them hope.  It may make them realize that we do care.  It may be the strength they need to keep trying themselves.

Maybe it does mean hanging a sign around your neck stating, “I am trying”.

Or maybe it is writing a song and singing to the world, “this is me trying”.

A personal (and comical) example of acknowledging our best.

this is me trying

My husband brought me beautiful flowers home on Friday.  He knows fresh cut flowers make me happy.

He is trying.

I notice them the moment I walk into my kitchen.  “Oh, those are so pretty!”  As I drop my purse and backpack down, I take in the aroma.  Oh no, they are strong, and I am allergic.

I don’t want him to think I don’t appreciate the beautiful flowers.  He has been getting them regularly and none of the others bother me.

I put them in a vase and set them on the end table outside.

I can smell them from the back door.

I move them to the patio table.  They look really nice against the backdrop of our yard.

This morning I wanted to sit at the patio table.  We have a stone table at the end of our patio.  They will look nice there, so I move them again. 

While I am typing this post, Jim walks outside with his coffee to sit down.  He looks up and gazes at the flowers.

“Why don’t you just go ahead and throw them out in the yard?”

What? I giggle.

This is me trying.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Print

Filed Under: Christian Living Tagged With: frustration, healing, hope, Self-care, self-worth, Stress and anxiety, struggle, trust in God

About Sue Miley

Sue earned her undergraduate degree in Finance at Louisiana State University in 1986. In 1993 she completed her Masters in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. In 2004, she earned a Masters in Education – Community Counseling.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kim says

    August 24, 2020 at 2:52 pm

    they are so beautiful! But I know the fragrance can be strong. Great post. Just what I needed actually. I see you trying, and it’s still working

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I accept the Privacy Policy

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Connect With US

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Blog Categories

  • Anxiety/Depression
  • Career
  • Christian Living
  • conflict resolution
  • Emotions
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Marriage/Couples
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting/Family
  • Transitions
  • Uncategorized

Visit our Christian Business Coaching Site

Crossroads-Professional-Coaching

Where Christian Values & Good Business Converge

Footer

VISIT OUR CHRISTIAN BUSINESS COACHING WEBSITE

Crossroads-Coach-Logo-in-White

SUBSCRIBE FOR RESOURCES, UPDATES AND ARTICLES

CROSSROADS PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING

8280 YMCA Plaza Dr.
Building 10-B
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70810
(225) 341-4147

CONNECT WITH US

Facebook-Icon Google-Plus-Icon Linkedin-Icon Twitter-Icon

Copyright © 2022 · CROSSROADS PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING | Privacy Policy | Privacy Tools

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT