Don't worry... Be happy...
I just read one of those "miracle" emails. You know the kind, just forward this message to seven other people and you will receive a miracle tomorrow. If I ever open a forwarded email, which is rare, this is normally what I open. I sadly forward it on most of the time. But this time I didn't and in this email it talks about happiness. It was talking about how this older man lost his wife and he was moving into a home, they said something like welcome home and he said I love it. They were quick to let him know that they hadn't shown him his room, his response was I don't have to see how the furniture was arranged to be happy. He goes on to say that happiness is a choice we make, it shouldn't depend on the things around us. We should store up more good memories than bad.
It really struck me. Is it that easy? Can I just say "I'm happy" and that's it? I would like to think it is, but I'm the type of guy that once it starts to go wrong I say "I guess it is going to be one of those days". Know what I mean? You wake up and stub your toe, then you forget your lunch, on the way to work you get a ticket, you forget to clock in, something a work breaks, on your way home your service engine light comes on and when you get home the dog has had an "accident". So I'm suppose to be able to say "I chose to be happy" and that's it?
Now I'm sure I could have a better attitude, but happy? I know those problems would be welcomed be a lot of people in the world, but it is so easy to get caught up in my world. My world has its own problems. It is so easy to look at someone else and say "boy I wish I had their problems". I wonder why we do that? Is it because we think everyone else has it better that we do? I think it goes back to this envy thing.... I know for me it is easy to see all the good things that others have and think "man I wish I had that".
The sad part is most of the time I do not even realize I'm doing it. Now don't get me wrong I do not do this exclusively. I do find times when I am genuinely happy for whatever they have or accomplished, but it doesn't happen as much as I would like.
I am happy with my life. I truly am. I find frustration sometimes in my attitude, OK a lot of the time. I'm going to try this choice thing out.... You with me? I'll let you know how it works. The first place I'm going to use this is with my beautiful little girls. I am going to chose to handle everything with grace and with a loving tone, even when they directly disobey.... I'll definitely need to remind myself of my choice in those moments.
God I pray that I can learn to chose my attitudes better. I hope that I can learn to handle myself in a way that would glorify you and not be one of those people that people look at as a reason not to follow you. Help me accomplish this, Amen.
It really struck me. Is it that easy? Can I just say "I'm happy" and that's it? I would like to think it is, but I'm the type of guy that once it starts to go wrong I say "I guess it is going to be one of those days". Know what I mean? You wake up and stub your toe, then you forget your lunch, on the way to work you get a ticket, you forget to clock in, something a work breaks, on your way home your service engine light comes on and when you get home the dog has had an "accident". So I'm suppose to be able to say "I chose to be happy" and that's it?
Now I'm sure I could have a better attitude, but happy? I know those problems would be welcomed be a lot of people in the world, but it is so easy to get caught up in my world. My world has its own problems. It is so easy to look at someone else and say "boy I wish I had their problems". I wonder why we do that? Is it because we think everyone else has it better that we do? I think it goes back to this envy thing.... I know for me it is easy to see all the good things that others have and think "man I wish I had that".
The sad part is most of the time I do not even realize I'm doing it. Now don't get me wrong I do not do this exclusively. I do find times when I am genuinely happy for whatever they have or accomplished, but it doesn't happen as much as I would like.
I am happy with my life. I truly am. I find frustration sometimes in my attitude, OK a lot of the time. I'm going to try this choice thing out.... You with me? I'll let you know how it works. The first place I'm going to use this is with my beautiful little girls. I am going to chose to handle everything with grace and with a loving tone, even when they directly disobey.... I'll definitely need to remind myself of my choice in those moments.
God I pray that I can learn to chose my attitudes better. I hope that I can learn to handle myself in a way that would glorify you and not be one of those people that people look at as a reason not to follow you. Help me accomplish this, Amen.
posted by Andy Rainey at Thursday, February 02, 2006
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