I admit… life’s been difficult lately. Not that my life is any more difficult or stressful than any other, but we all have problems and situations we have to deal with. It’s come up with several friends lately that being happy is really a conscious choice we make - each and every day. You wake up in the morning, maybe you had a restless night, maybe you have aches and pains, maybe you have things you don’t want to do and aren’t coping well with… you STILL have a choice to find the good things in life. Bad happens, we all know that. It’s how you refocus your sights on the good that matters. It isn’t always easy to do… especially when you have to help other people see the good in their lives.
So, what is good? This is MY list.
- My health
- My children
- My marriage
- My home
- New job
- My friends
- My networking group
- My book club
- My adorable dogs
- The weather finally cooling down a little
- October
- Pumpkins
- Dressing up for Halloween
- Gummy Bears
- The Free People store at the mall
- Scottish Breakfast Tea Lattes from Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
It’s too easy to think of the bad, not so easy to list the good. Try it… tell me something that is making you smile today.
What is a Scottish Breakfast Tea Latte?! I have clearly been deprived.
I heard something terrific the other day on a podcast I keep meaning to blog about because I liked it so much: “The world isn’t good or bad- the world is the world. We’re the ones who can be good or bad. The world can’t choose.”
As much a coffee addict as I am, I have to get a Scottish Breakfast Tea Latte every now and then… so friggin’ good! Coffee Bean is the only shop that has them.
It’s true… the world is the world. One of my favorite sayings is “it is what it is” and my husband hates when I say that, but it’s so true. There are so many things you can’t change that you might as well focus on the things that you CAN change. Life is very short and why go through it being miserable all the time.
Totally agree with you on happiness being a choice - I even have a big poster in my kitchen to that extent. I can always find things for which to be grateful, even on my worst of days. Last week somebody did a last minute left turn - from the RIGHT lane; I could’ve been ticked off (okay, I was, extremely), but I was also very, VERY happy I just had my brakes done two months ago. (Though I wasn’t thrilled when I was writing that fattie check.)
That said, on some days for me, happiness = being in a bitchy mood.
You’re right, we chose to be happy or not. This is something I’m being reminded every day for the past 4 months. If my family and I are in good health, we have food on our table, a home to live in the rest will be ok. It is just about perspective. Thank you for the kind reminder that life is good.
Having a friend like you is making me smile today!
I hear that! I write a gratitude journal every Friday. Sounds like you have a darn good life lady!
Pumpkin bread at Starbucks….
I love this. A lot.
Haven’t been to CB&TL lately-clearly its time to get back there! What makes me happy? Coming home after a long day at work & having my dogs go spazzy to see me-such joy!