Positively Positive

Okay, let's just start this off with the confession: I have a really hard time being positive, seeing the glass as half full, not complaining, etc.

I have to fight to view things in the right light. My default, go-to, response to life in-general and the things that come my way has always had this negative-bent. For years, I bolstered this attitude by arguing that I was simply being 'logical'. Not really sure why I came to this conclusion, but I knew it was right. 

Over the last two years, I've had the privilege of being surrounded by people who are the definition of positivity. I mean, it used to feel over-the-top to me. I would wonder how they could be so happy and always look on the bright side of things? I had pretty much decided that it was great for them, but I would always have this negative cloud looming over me. I kind of enjoyed the negative - there was something satisfying to me about always pointing out what's wrong or missing, made me feel more valuable, like I was this expert that could find the bad in everything (wow- what an awesome power to have, haha).

Over time, this perspective, this mindset, lost its luster. Sometimes you're totally content with your way of living until you find something better, then the old is totally unacceptable. For example, my favorite ice cream used to be Bluebell's Peppermint. It was only available during the holidays, you know, the pink one with the little mints sprinkled throughout. Yum. But then a month or so ago, I had Jeni's Backyard Mint. Never will I eat another. It's unreal the difference! 

Taken one morning from my apartment,
trying to stop and enjoy the little things

That's what started happening with my outlook on life! I began to reject the Bluebell for the Jeni's! It wasn't easy all the time, and my mind fought it so much (how weird it felt to me- what is this happy response that ignores all the bad things going on?!)

Then one day I woke up and it was all different. I found myself encouraging others to look on the bright side - when did that happen?! I have to mention that I read this fabulous book that my friend Christine recommended called One Thousand Gifts. If you struggle with being grateful, this book will change your life. If you're already pretty grateful, it will also change your life.

Then I also read (again, at Christine's recommendation) Cold Tangerines- a book that was instrumental in my changed perspective. It's all about celebrating and enjoying the little moments in life, the small blessings that we ignore, like an ice-cold tangerine. THAT IS A GIFT! And there's so many more things like it that we just let pass us by unnoticed.

Then I read Bittersweet. Phew. Possibly my favorite book. Shauna kept that awesome, positive perspective, but then she brings in the reality that life is just plain bitter sometimes, and there are hard things.
This is the tagline for the book:

                     “When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. 

                       And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow.”

By Matthew Taylor Wilson

I began to want to have that attitude toward whatever came my way. It made sense. It was logical to my mind now. So this positive outlook doesn't neglect the rough things in life- it for sure embraces them. It looks them straight in the face and looks beyond, with this great vision of life that is bigger than what's happening right this moment, and the understanding that the things that happen to us all happen for a reason.

The other night my hubby and I were relaxing at the pool, enjoying the very last bit of summertime. It had been a stressful week and the weekend was half over, so we both needed a little energizing and decided to each name 10 things  for which we were thankful. real things. Next thing you know, we are laughing, smiling, and happy. Something happens when you focus on the positive, and it's a good thing. Try it.