Heartistic Desires

Posted By Cori on October 18, 2009

Pollyanna. Rose-colored glasses. Optimistic to a fault. Miss Happy. Somehow, we can be intimidated by people with a positive attitude. We tend to think they are ‘gifted’ with a positive attitude and maybe they just haven’t had any real trials in life. That their struggles are easier on them because they have optimism in their blood. They are somehow more blessed than we are.

I beg to differ.

Some of the most positive people I know are people who face life-altering trials and challenges and chose to see the up-side. In all honesty, it’s easy to be negative. But to face life’s trials and worries with an “I believe this will be for my eventual good” attitude, is hard. I would submit that positive people have just as many days as negative people when it’s hard to get out of bed. The difference is in the thought process. A positive person lays in bed in the morning and meditates, ponders, prays for the strength to face the day with peace and grace. A negative person lays in bed in the morning and bemoans what lays ahead, blames others, and knows nothing will ever change. We all have positive days and negative days but fighting the urge to cave to the negative on a daily basis (or minute to minute) is what differentiates the Pollyanna’s.

I believe a positive attitude takes courage. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the exercising of faith in the face of fear. Faith is not the absence of doubt, but the acting with hope in the face of that doubt. When we choose a positive course, we are overcoming fear and doubt. We are being optimistic.

Life is not easy. For anyone. I dislike it when people use ‘I’m so busy,’ or ‘things are really hard,’ as excuses. I can guarantee you that for almost anyone you meet, life is just as busy and/or just as hard. But there is so much of beauty and joy in life. So much to celebrate! So many gifts that seem small but are really the essence of life! Did you wake up this morning? Bing! Is there someone (anyone) who loves you? Bing! Is there someone (anyone) for you to love? Bing! Life itself is a gift worth celebrating.

In the last year and a half my husband and I have lost almost everything that was familiar to us: we closed our 8-year old business; lost our home (and neighborhood friends) of ten years; became empty nesters; had to give up our beloved family dog; moved 700 miles away from our daughters, grandchildren and other close family; moved to an area completely unfamiliar to us and much different from our former surroundings; etc., etc. There is more, but there is no point going on. Each of you has your own list of frustrations, sadnesses and discouragements. There is not one person on the face of this beautiful earth for whom life has turned out just how they planned with no disappointments or u-turns. Those moments can become trials or opportunities. It’s a matter of Choice.

Some days, it’s hard to get out of bed. Some nights it’s hard to fix dinner. Some weekends it’s hard to do chores and run errands. But I believe every day is a Gift that I should show Gratitude for. Gratitude is the ultimate anti-depressant. Living with Gratitude reminds me of all I have retained and, even more important, all I have gained because of the losses we have experienced.

Today I vow to be more grateful and to show that gratitude through my actions; to choose a more positive way of life.

Category: Musings
Tags: anti-depressant, attitude, blessings, courage, Faith, grace, gratitude, love, optimism, peace, positive