It’s not always easy, but I find it very important to remind myself regularly to celebrate the good. Every time I act, speak or respond to something in my life, I make a choice of whether I am going to find the positive or dwell on negative. Some things – like gooey chocolate chip cookies with a glass of milk – are easier to enjoy than others – like cleaning bathrooms.
While I don’t think it’s necessary or even realistic to go through every moment with a fake smile plastered on my face for the sake of seeming positive, I do think it’s important to try to focus on the positive, enjoy the little things and celebrate moments big and small for what they are – special.
My kids do sometimes make me crazy. I try not to focus on it too much or all the time because I don’t want to look back someday and wish I had spent more time enjoying the snuggles than wishing for some space.
This remodeled home of ours is not without it’s annoyances. There are even some not so stellar memories from this home. But I don’t focus on those things because I don’t think they make what this house or our life here is. My family, the memories we make and the love we share is what makes this place – any place – home. I don’t want to look back someday and wish I had appreciated it more and celebrated it for what it is – my family’s home, this will always be the place my kids grew up. That is to be celebrated, no matter how imperfect it is.
In any instance in life, I can choose to find the good, revel in it and enjoy. Or I can choose to find the negative, complain and whine. I am going to, with purpose, celebrate the good. It feels better.
My father used to say that you wake up every morning and decide whether to be happy or unhappy. He also said (way before the book came out) that you don’t sweat the small stuff, because you’ll know when it’s something big. His philosophy was that you ask yourself if you have any control over the situation, and if you don’t, then don’t worry about it. He was smart about those things, but he was also an alcoholic, so not so smart in other ways.
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It is true that it’s a daily decision to be happy or unhappy. Both take effort. I’d rather put the effort into being happy and appreciative and thankful. I do tend to sweat the small stuff but it takes something big happening for me to realize how small the small stuff really is.
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My kids get sick of hearing me say… turn that frown upside down! It’s so true. Just thinking about the positive can make you feel so much better.
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Awesome post, Emily. Yep, totally true! It is so often a choice!
Have a great day!
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You are right. Happiness/unhappiness is a choice that we make on a daily basis. It’s easy to get caught up in life’s happenings and forgetting to make it a conscious effort. Thanks for the reminder. I needed it today.
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Emily:
I live in your town. We also bought a fixer upper and have spent the past 10 years working on it. Mostly after the first year things were manageable, the past 9 years we have been adding all the gingerbread, as we like to call it. For instance, this year we only have a small table top Christmas tree because I can’t get to our big tree. It is being blocked by a ton (literally) of hardwood flooring that is being installed. I am a bit bummed out about that but I know I’ll love the floor once it is down. Your house will be more and more “yours” as you go. You are right, wake up every day and DECIDE it will be a good day. There is so much good about life!!
Cheers and happy holidays!
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An important reminder. I tend to focus on the negative. It takes a lot of effort to focus on the positive.
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Great Post Emily!
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I completely agree. Choosing to focus on good things keeps your perspective where it should be. If you’re always thinking about how your husband won’t pick up his dirty socks and how your kids won’t stop whining is creates a pretty gloomy picture, but remembering the way your husband smiles at you and hearing your children laugh is inspiring.
Great post.
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