Get Bitter or Get Better?

Since paying my taxes, I’ve definitely been reminded of what it feels like to be a little short on cash. Not that I’ve had to use credit yet — it’s just that our “emergency fund” has basically been depleted.

Even though I know everything will work out fine, it’s still a little unsettling.

The worst part: I still owe Uncle Sam an additional $5,000 and change by April 15.

On the bright side, this experience is once again a catalyst for changing my behavior in 2009.

If you’ve been following my story for any length of time, then you know I’ve been making baby steps each year, particularly with debt & taxes.

• In January 2007 (paying taxes for 2006), I didn’t have enough money to pay my taxes. God provided.

• In January 2008 (paying taxes for 2007), I still didn’t have enough money to pay my taxes. God still provided.

• In January 2009 (paying taxes for 2008), I did have enough money to pay my taxes — but not much left over.

Lord willing, I’ll have enough to pay my taxes in 2010 plus have a decent sum of money left over.

All of which raises a question:

When negative things happen to you, you can use them to your advantage or to your disadvantage. Unfortunately, most people become bitter instead of becoming better.

That’s really the choice that stands before you.

When something bad happens to you, do you become bitter or get better?

Will you stay the same and rot in your emotion… or make changes so you don’t have to deal with the same problems in the future?

Half the battle is simply understanding the choice you have. Most people don’t even know they have a choice. They simply react with bitterness: “Why did this have to happen to me?”

You have a better option. Treat bad experiences as learning experiences. Learn something from them. Move on. Get better. Be thankful you’ve had such learning experiences in your life.

That’s how you make progress. That’s how you make positive change. By choosing to get better. Start choosing to get better today.