Oh Happy Day!

Today is the last day of school for those of us in California.  I know, I know…the rest of the county has been on summer break for weeks now.  But for us, finally it’s here!

But with school’s end come finals.  And Ashton has had one class in particular this year that has challenged her in more ways than one – Geometry.  Back in September and October phrases like “I’ll never get this!”  “I’m going to drop out and go back to regular math” or “I’m just not that smart” were pretty common in our house.  It was frustrating for her and for us.  She studied for tests, did her homework, asked questions but still struggled.

So we got a tutor. 

Every Wednesday at 5:15 Nina the tutor walks into our door.  Slowly, methodically, Nina works side by side with Ashton. And bit by bit Ashton has come to master concepts she once thought impossible. 

Yesterday afternoon I was in the middle of the grocery store (shopping again since the kids are eating me out of house and home – which I love, by the way) when my phone rang.

“Mom, guess what?  I got an A on my Geometry final!  Can you believe it?  I got an A!”

Oh, Happy Day!

Now the real point to this blog is this:  where do you struggle? 

What’s an area where – if you’re really being honest – you think, “I’ll never…”

Lose the weight

Get into shape

Finish the project

Land the dream job

Get control of my finances

Restore my marriage

Stop the addiction

Can I be frank?  On your own you may not be able to accomplish what you hope for.  All your effort and hard work may not be enough right now.

You may need a Nina.

You may need structure.  Someone with a plan. Someone who has walked in your shoes and knows how to take you from where you are to where you want to go.

Maybe it’s a personal trainer or a financial counselor or a marriage counselor or a older, wiser mentor. 

Oh sure, you’ll have reasons why you can’t call that person. I had them too.

It’s too expensive.

I don’t know who to call.

I don’t really have the time.

I’ll look into it another day.

But if you wait you’ll be just like Ashton back in September.  Whining.  Discouraged.  Hopeless.

If you get off the dime and enlist the help you need you’ll be on your way to overcoming the obstacle that’s holding you back. 

But remember, Nina didn’t just waltz into our home once or twice and help Ashton achieve her goals. No.  Nina came every single Wednesday.  You may need to see that counselor once a week or that trainer a couple of months or have the friend call you each day.  But don’t let that intimidate you.  Let it motivate you.

If you do, you’ll likely be saying

Oh

Happy

Day!

So go for it!