STRESSED . . . . . . . . AND BLESSED

 Sometimes it seems as if some people are more blessed than others, that the blessings – and stresses – in life are not equally distributed.
But, of course, once we peel away the surface, we all have stress. And we all have blessings.
 
The stress, the pain, is real and often seems to have the power to eclipse our blessings. But blessings we all have.

It may not feel that way (and telling this to a person in the midst of anguish, is counter productive and offensive) but every life has some light.

Waking up in the morning is a blessing.
Basic functions like vision, hearing and mobility are blessings.
A friendship - how much more so a relationship - is a blessing.
The ability to help another person in need (even if it's just allowing them to vent) is a blessing.
 
We all have blessings. When we’re genuinely conscious of our reality, we’ll find those blessings. Even as we’re stressed.
 
Problems and blessings can co-exist: The greatest joy won’t solve our objective problems. And the most stressful problems don’t erase our objective blessings. But they’re both real. And we can’t forget the blessings for the pain.
This consciousness is our morning meditation and prayer.
 
We identify our blessings and thank G-d for them. We FEEL blessed.
Then, empowered by our blessing, we identify our stresses and ask G-d for help with solutions.
 
The problems are still problems. But they’re standing side-by-side with our blessings, not eclipsing them.
 
It makes a world of difference.