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Is it just me or does anyone else ever feel as though life sometimes hands them more than they can cope with?
I'm sure most of you have heard the saying of how God doesn't give us more than we are able to handle.
I am not sure exactly who started this saying, but if they are correct, then I honestly don't know why God thinks that some of us are so strong.
As I mentioned last week, being an adult is hard.
Perhaps it is the hardest thing we will ever have to do.
There are some days when the only thing I want is to stay in bed and pull the covers up over my head so that I can forget about everything that is falling apart around me.
There are times when I actually do it, too.
Again, I am someone who prefers to live in denial.
I believe it is an inherited trait.
But of course, that isn't how the real world works, is it?
Living in denial?
Our problems will always be there once we pull back those covers and finally get out of bed.
Life is something we cannot outrun.
Life is something we cannot hide from. No matter how badly we would like to.
Our troubles still exist ... despite our depression, despite our anxiety, despite our denial.
I am sure there are others, like myself, who at times would love to be able to ask for help, help from some of these resources which society offers to people who "qualify."
There are times when most of us could use a helping hand.
Not a handout.
Just a hand.
However, the answer is pretty much the same at each and every stop we make along the way.
For we are the ones who walk that fine line between making "too much money" to be considered poor, but not enough money to live without stress.
It's hard, isn't it?
I know there are so many of you who fit into this category.
We are trying.
But it feels as if we are being punished because we are trying.
Remember … all we can do in this life is to try, as an adult or as a child.
Now, I won't sit here and give you some kind of sob story.
Why?
Well, for the simple fact that everybody has a story.
I'm sure we have all heard that expression, too.
You could randomly select any person walking down the street and they will have a heartbreaking story they could share about their life.
Guaranteed.
The world isn't all hearts and flowers, the way some people like to pretend it is.
Some people prefer to portray their life as if it is perfect.
You know who these people are.
They are the ones who only post the positive aspects of their life onto their social media pages.
The ones who only note the highlights of their day, the wonderful occasions spent with friends and family.
Those who upload their flawless, airbrushed photos.
And yet, they never discuss the pain or the difficult circumstances they are going through.
Everybody has a story.
Everybody goes through pain, problems and stress, but then, we have these moments.
Little moments.
Times when all of our sadness, all of our uneasiness, all of that anxiety and depression falls away.
And in those brief instants, we are filled with a joy -- an unexplained glimmer of happiness, that lets all that is wrong in our world dissipate.
If only for a moment.
Special seconds, special minutes, special hours where everything isn't crumbling at our feet.
And life isn't falling apart.
Little moments ...
Like my Sunday mornings spent with Layne.
He truly makes my heart smile.
I never even knew that was possible.
How does a heart smile?
For some reason, mine sure feels like it does whenever I am in his presence.
I love it there.
Yes, there are moments that make life seem as if it will be all right ... if only for a few seconds, a few minutes, a few hours.
Like when a song we haven't heard in years suddenly comes on the radio.
Without hesitation, we immediately turn the volume up as loud as it will go.
We still know every word.
The other day, I was driving home from work and the song "Daisy Jane," came on one of the stations. I haven't heard that song in years.
And for those few minutes, all of the negative taking up space in my head, in my heart, fell away.
It's about moments.
Like catching every green light when you are in a hurry.
An amazing cup of coffee.
Cake. Puppies.
Fuzzy blankets in the winter.
Central air in the summer.
Ice cream cones from the dairy isle.
A few extra dollars after paying the bills.
Going to your favorite restaurant and being able to order whatever you want off the menu without having to look at the prices.
It's about moments.
We all have them.
And no, not everyone's is the same.
How great is that?
I appreciate the fact that everyone can have their own likes and dislikes.
It is nice to know we all don't share the same taste.
It's what sets us apart.
It's what makes us unique.
I mean, if everyone liked dogs, no one would ever adopt a kitten.
And it doesn't matter how small or insignificant what you like actually is in the grand scheme of life.
It's all about those little moments. Things which sometimes, matter most.
So, the next time you are experiencing sadness or anxiety or loneliness or just want to crawl under the covers and pray the day away, my wish for you, is moments.
Take a second to do something you love. Read that book. Eat the ice cream. Kiss a puppy.
There are so many little moments that can make you forget about all of things that may be going wrong in your life.
And if it's true, and God really doesn't give us more than we can handle, then maybe that is why he gives us those precious little moments we adore in order to be able to handle all of the difficult ones.
I like to think so anyway.
I wish you all many moments.
(Stenger is the community editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times. She can be contacted at jstenger@heraldstaronline.com.)