Decide to be happy now

As I thought, the ways in which the Universe pushes me...for my own good...doesn’t end when I think it will. Sometimes you are so caught up in the moment, in the push-back and the frustration that even though you think you are doing your possible best, there is something else you can do. I thought I was doing my possible best to stay centered yesterday, to keep the focus on myself and allow others to be themselves.

 The dark cloud that hung over my head because of my self-pity attitude over my injured foot and my son’s broken elbow had lifted because I sought help from friends and family and the Universe and asked for what I needed. I had ideas about my day, what I would get done and how it would go (ah- hem..problem #1) and I was doing it all with a smile; meal planning, grocery shopping, inviting friend’s of my son’s over, playing the good mom, being responsible by going over my budget and paying bills with my willing husband, it was going to be smooth sailing because I had a plan (ah-hem...problem #2)!

Well, had I read from my daily meditation book in the morning (problem #3), I would have been able to stop my actions because I haven’t reached enlightenment yet. I am still very human and I FORGET! I forget about the other things I can do instead of feeling hurt and acting negatively. There are other things that I can do when my set expectations aren’t met and I start to get angry. There are other things that I can do when the people around me aren’t happy instead of being unhappy with them.

What? You ask. You can decide to be happy now! How can you do this, you might ask, when your husband is upset with the lack of money we have, your nineteen year old is pushing your buttons and your day is NOT going like you planned? You CAN make a gratitude list. What CAN you be thankful for right now?

 Find a quiet place and start listing things. I did and I was surprised how good it made me feel. It is ok that I didn’t do this until just before I went to sleep when things were already said out of anger. Ideally, I would have stopped and recognized where I was headed, but I didn’t and I need to forgive myself.

Can’t think of anything? Let me share with you some of the things I said I am grateful for. I listed 25 but here are just a few:
I am thankful for:
1. hot chai in the morning
2. my red bedroom that I painted myself
3. how much my 13 year old loves me
4. my girlfriends
5. that I have known love
6. the clean water I have to drink
7. that I can walk to my job
8. the food in my refrigerator
 9. this notebook and pen
10. my bed

 So, start now. What are you thankful for? What are your strengths? List them. Empower yourself by feeling the love for the little things. Take charge of your life by not allowing others to be in your drivers seat. Find peace within yourself by being thankful for just a few things each day.