When Life Gives You Too Many Lemons

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

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When Life Gives You Too Many Lemons

You’ve probably heard the expression before that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. But quite frankly sometimes we get tired of the lemons and lemonade. Sometimes we just want to enjoy the sweet fruits of life and of our labor and not continue to experience the sour parts of life.

Sometimes we just want a tall glass of Koolaid, that brings the koolaid smile to our face not the hardships and stress that our day to day experiences bring from time to time. Even though I completely understand this sentiment, I’ve learned over the years that the extra lemons are not for me. When life over burdens us with lemons, it’s not for us but for those we are connected to. When we have had enough lemonade, it’s time for us to set the table because soon we will encounter others that need a drink too.

Sometimes our trials and tribulations are to equip us with the knowledge and ability to relate to others and help them. It’s not always about us and what we do or don’t want. We are blessed to be a blessing. We are able to overcome not just so we can move forward but so that we can help others to do the same. We can use our hurt sand disappointments to help others to find joy after experiencing pain. We can use our trials and tribulations to help our loved ones find sunshine after a season of storms and rain.
It amazes me how something so sour can be used to make something so refreshing and satisfying. But it takes a little effort on our part for this transformation to occur. We have to squeeze the sour juice from the lemons, add a sweetener, and mix the ingredients before we can turn a lemon

into lemonade,pour it in a glass, and quench our thirst, satisfying our desire for something better. The juices of a lemon equates to the life lessons and wisdom that we have to extract from various experiences. We should always walk away from a situation asking, “What am I suppose to take from this experience?” The sweeteners are a positive attitude, faith , hope, love and determination to move forward and make the most of every opportunity. We must decide to be a winner in life no matter what. There’s no such thing as failure. Throwing in the towel is not an option, and giving up is unthinkable. Our glass is always half full if not full because we always have something to start with or give: faith, love, joy,  and hope, among other things like a sound mind. These ingredients are  more than enough to turn any situation around for the better. We don’t need all the sweeteners in the same batch of lemonade, but it’s good to have options. One sweetener may be better than another in getting the breakthrough we need in whatever circumstances we may find ourselves in. The greatest and best sweetener is always love. Be encouraged. Don’t give up or lose heart.

Sip your lemonade. Breathe. Say, “ I can do this.” Encourage someone else that they can too. Then offer them a glass of lemonade.

Live, Love, Dance, Pray…Be Thankful Each and Every Day

Peace and Blessing,

Quinta Nicole

Quintanicole.com

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