From what I have seen it is the condition of the heart that determines outlook more than environment.
That is not to say there are not environments that need changing, or there is never a time when my environment should not be escaped if possible.  I would be foolish to stay in a dangerous environment or one that pulls me down big time.  If I have the opportunity to escape, escape.
For many situations my outlook is why take the hard way when there is an easier way.  I was close to someone who deliberately chose hard to be prepared for hard.  To me it was like choosing misery now in preparation for misery later.
I must admit that is not me.  There are times when I know hard does me good.  Yet I will not seek hard in preparation for hard.  Hard tends to happen anyway.  My preparation for it is to gather provisions in summer for scarcity in winter.  It is not something I peruse with a “why me?” attitude.  It is just something I do, and I have what I need when I need it.
Where I can I know I need to flee things that will pull me down.  To me that is not a mark of weakness but of strength.  It is a knowing my capacities at a certain point.  It is not saying I will never be good in the environment, but it is saying that right now I need to work on me to increase my strength.
I am no good for anyone if I am no good for me.  I feel the best way I can help another is to have faced and overcome the same debilitating situation.  Where I have not faced something a person is going through, I reckon my best is to be with them where possible but always to let them know I am alongside to help.
When it comes to bad environments, many to aid are definitely better than facing something alone.  Battle are won with superior fire power and overwhelming.  Sometimes environments compound a bad situation and distract from the condition of the heart.

​Ok This is late. Ok not just late this is very late. In fact I think I have set a new world record for late posting of one of my posts. I'm a world record holder.

This morning I woke up ahead of time and thought I can sleep for the next three quarters of an hour or so. Turned out I awake about ½ an hour after my usual get up time.

I decided that I would do my post after I got home (we go out extremely early of a Monday.) We got home and the coffee was calling me. I thought ok it is post time. But almost immediately forgot.

Merril has decided to spend four hours a day for three days a week studying. I decided I would spend the time doing things I know I need to do.

The first thing was a visual presentation of the usage each week of the several places we have available at our church (I do the organizing of the maintenance and things that need doing.) I wanted a clear picture in my head of when places are used and when they are free. We are finding the centre is being hired more and more. Some things necessitate a set up by me. I also wanted others to know when the hall is available.

It has become bigger than Ben Hur. I decided templates were inadequate for what I want so I made one. Of course I have discovered a need for other things as I have gone along and that has meant adjusting the template as well. Still it is happening.

I had decided it was break time when someone arrived to do some things in the yard. We are way happy for that. As I said to the person who arrived we are basically over it. If we can afford to have someone else do what we used to do, we will get them. We pay them and they are happy, and we are happy.

So I came back to continue the work on the template and remembered I have not posted yet. Merril just came in and seeing her reminded me I need to do something she asked. Easy to do but it really is indicative of the sort of day it is. But I am at it again and closer to finishing then I have ever been!

It hit me this morning that it is my job to “make it happen”
I do remember someone saying they were complaining big time about all the things on their to do list that were keeping them from doing what they really wanted to do.  But examining the list they realized they were responsible for all the things they had committed to and that kept them from doing what they really wanted to do.  Easy fix.  Fixing may disappoint some, but it will inevitably lead to better outcomes.
I have found that one of the hardest things for volunteers to do is to say no.  Volunteers tend to think of themselves as super people.  They often are made aware of a need and volunteer to do it.  Just because it needs to be done.
The thing is though, overextended good will leads to burn out.  I remember a guy saying that if he is made aware of a need, he just does it.  To me that is a noble sentiment but often the motivation is good - but the consequences are not good.  I said to him that was the quickest way to burn out I know.
The thing is, often the person expressing the need is the one responsible for making it happen.  I have found in leadership the buck stops with me.  If it has to be done, it has to be done.  If not - it does not happen, and no one is burned.
I may not be passionate about a particular task, but I may know it has to happen.  If I can find no one willing to make it happen and I am the leader, it is up to me to make it happen.  Sometimes that means I need to do it until I find someone else who wants to, and is able to, do it - that is they are either taught it or take up the mantle because they have been there before, and it is what is in their heart to do.
The thing for me is I am very much responsible for leading myself.  The way for me to avoid “what might have beens” is to make it happen.  Often I do not know the full picture.  In those cases I get all the help I can and make a start.  To me imperfect incomplete is better than seeing nothing achieved.  So often there are others willing to help and provide helpful advice when I am willing to make a start.
Definitely starting can be the hardest part, but every journey has a starting point.  Often, if I want it, it is up to me to “make it happen.”