#67 - Writing the next chapter

In life, like in books, every chapter is written to move us on to the next part of the story.  Luckily in life, unlike in books, our chapters are written by us and we can decide how we want them to go and when it is time to move on to a new one.  Every word written is of our choice, even though we may not think so, we do have the power of holding the pen for our lives.  We choose how it is going to go by the choices we made every single day.  Here is what I mean.

Every morning we wake up and make our first choice.  Do I want to get out of this warm, safe, comfortable bed or not?  From there our days are filled with more and more choices we must make.  I know I have heard people say, 'but I don't have a choice...I have to work.'  But there it is again, you do have a choice.  Do you want to go to work to provide for yourself (and your family if you have one), putting a roof over their heads and food on the table or do you want to be homeless and beg?  Choices...we all have choices.

Another choice we have is how we feel.  Do you want to be happy or sad?  Are you going to raise the pom-poms and cheer on the day or are you going to invite the world to you own personal pity party?  I know some will talk about depression and how it is not a choice.  I do not fully understand depression as I have never had it, I have been sad and then worked myself out of it. Maybe it's luck.  Maybe it is that I have all but removed the pharmaceutical world from my life opting for more natural remedies and cures than those of the medical community.  Not saying there is not a time and place where it may be needed, just that I am not going to throw a pill at every problem I have in my life.  It seems like according to modern medicine, there is a pill for everything.  Have a headache? Take a pill.  Have a sad moment? Take a pill.  Can't perform? Take a pill.  Want to be healthy? Take a pill.

People today have become accustom to running to the doctor or pharmacy whenever they feel something is off.  Ever wonder if the pills we are taking are actually causing the off feelings?  Ever listen to the list of side effects spewed off in the lower monotone voice in record speed at the end of those feel good commercials telling you there is a pill for everything that ails you?  Do you really want to take a pill for a headache that is going to cause IBS, vomiting, shortness of breath, vision problems, loss of hearing, inability to walk or care for yourself, comma and even the possibility of death?  The mentality that everything has a medicinal fix seems to be strengthened by every commercial for the new drugs.  Have you ever paid attention to all the other commercials from the law firms putting out class action suits against many of those drugs we watched commercials for?  It's like they go hand-in-hand and it all goes back to choices.

Please understand that this is not a blog about promoting medicinal marijuana or anything like that.  I am just saying we all have choices on what we do, how we feel, and what we want to do about changing those two things.

This morning for a very small moment I started to feel sad.  I was supposed to have plans this evening, a date, but last week the man I was seeing decided it wasn't working for him, so no more plans.   So I had a choice and instead of letting this ruin my day, I am going pick up the pom-poms and going to cheer at the possibilities today may bring.  I see art and beauty in my future, and the beginning of my next chapter.

Early to rise - Day 5 - Not so early this time

Think I spoke too soon yesterday morning.  I realized this as I woke up about 30 minutes later this morning than planned.  No, I didn't set the dreaded alarm clock.  As I have mentioned before, I find those things just annoying and intrusive.  I was out late last night and honestly went to bed late so ended up sleeping in a bit longer than planned.  Oh well.  Life happens.

That is one thing that I think I will write about today.  Life happens.  I used to think that it was Sh*t Happens but found that to be a negative way of looking at it.  In the past year or two I have been trying to focus my thoughts on all positive things, knowing negative was out there but deciding for me I would just focus on the positive side regardless.  Here are some examples of how I do this.

If the clouds are darkening and rain is forming overhead, instead of thinking about it as "my day is ruined", "my plans have to change because it's going to rain", I look at the clouds and see that even tho they are dark, where the sun shines behind them they are white, almost having the proverbial silver lining, choosing to see the glow and know that the rain will cool off the temperature, will brighten the green in the grasses and plants, and will smell refreshing.

I think that in doing this, I am telling myself and the universe that regardless of how things are happening, I am going to just deal with it and focus on the lighter side, the positive side.  It really does make it easier to move through some of the not so pleasant things that happen.  Focusing on the positive works with people too.  Even tho someone really gets on your nerves, you can us this technique when having to deal with them.  I will say sometimes it is harder than other times but giving it a try can't hurt.  I am not perfect and there are times I forget to try but more often than not, I do.

Sharing the positive also helps others feel the effects as well.  For example, going to a store, standing in line, watching people put their items on a conveyor belt waiting to be checked out so they can get out and go on their own path can be tedious.  Next time, try striking up a conversation with the person in front or behind you.  It can make the time you are standing there a little less boring, painful, and annoying.  Cracking a joke will lighten the mood and make it seem less like just standing there and more like meeting a new person and enjoying the moment.  Also, catch the name of the cashier or teller and instead of ignoring them and rushing through the transaction, say hi to them by name.  You will be surprised just how much that little gesture can make their day a little brighter.  You will see them smile a bit at being acknowledged for who they are, not just the job they are doing.

It only takes a second to brighten your day and others.  Smiles are free yet they are priceless when you share them.