Learn to love your life

“I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full.”

— John 10:10 (NIV)

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. It’s the special holiday when we think of the loves of our lives.

But how often do we say, “I love my life”?

Jesus says we can have a fulfilling life, but it's up to us.

Most of my life I have enjoyed the people, places and things I've encountered. But don’t get me wrong; there’s many times I haven’t loved, or even liked, certain aspects of it. However, I have learned to enjoy my life despite them.

Loving our life starts with knowing God and forming a relationship with him through prayer.

Having some goals along the way, at any age, whether we achieve them or not, can help us feel empowered about our life choices. Keeping dreams in balance, so we can enjoy where we are on the way to where we are going, is extremely important.

Learning to let go of regrets — I wish I would have, should have and could have — helps us keep moving forward and living in the moment.

Keeping our mistakes in proper perspective and learning valuable lessons from our past helps us to become wiser.

Discovering our gifts and talents helps us find the joy in what God has given us to do. This can be achieved at any age, and many appear at different seasons in our life.

Resisting the demon of comparison helps us to appreciate who we are and what we have.

Learning the balance of work and play helps us to have a healthier life. Giving ourselves proper time for work, rest and recreation is how God created us to function.

Stretching ourselves to try new things, no matter how hard it may seem, helps us develop and grow in courage and confidence.

Most importantly, staying grateful and keeping a positive, healthy outlook, regardless of how bad our present circumstances look, strengthens our faith.

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author of the book “Letters To A Friend,” speaker, life and writing coach and nurse. She can be contacted at annetteebudzban@aol.com.