I'm curious......

What is it that PREVENTS us from feeling worthy of the feelings of happiness, gratitude, and joy? I'm not sure....I simply know that so many of us work so hard for the feelings of happiness, gratitude, and joy yet never feel like we attain them.....however they are in front of us every day!

Recently a friend and I spoke on the phone while I was simultaneously watching my 9 year old and her friends joyfully push mini-shopping carts through the grocery store...narrowly missing the tender ankles of all they passed! They were giggling with delight at their antics while I was trying to corral their energies when my friend called. I excused my laughter and explained to her the situation........she paused and asked me, "How can you possibly forget the other things you're dealing with right now and take such joy from the moment?" I responded with, "How can I NOT?"

What other way is there to be? What other way is there to function? I may have a very full plate right now of things that are not so pleasant, but should those things detract from my joy of the moment? Should what I am carrying on my shoulders keep me from enjoying the moments of what life is truly all about? Should the moments of pain and frustration when dealing with other things in my life prevent me from feeling worthy of the joy of seeing my child delight in the activities with her friends? I would have to say, "Not"!

The little moments of true joy are around us every day......the child who brings home a drawing from school.....the co-worker who stops by our office just to say hello.......the friend who calls to touch base......the teenager who stops and does the dishes without being asked.....these are all moments to stop and appreciate....yet we so often look the other way and forget that we are worthy of accepting the joy of the moment....of the experience. We get caught up in what the moment 'prevented' us from doing (such as completing a task, finishing a phone call, leaving something to the next day) that we lose sight of the fact that the moment is what made our day worthwhile...not getting the task done.......that part of the day will still be there tomorrow.......the moment of accepting the joy of the experience will not....

During a particularly trying time recently, a friend of mine was travelling to the other side of the world. We had a brief moment to catch up on the phone and my friend got me laughing.....laughing until my sides hurt...laughing until I thought I simply couldn't stand it any longer........laughing until I thought I couldn't stop!!!! When we finished our call I stopped and felt such immense gratitude.....gratitude that my friend took the time, the expense, the effort to connect with ME.....gratitude........gratitude for such friends in my life.......the gratitude of the experience truly is priceless!!

I've decided that we can make up our minds pretty much to be how we want to be.....if we want to be miserable we can pretty easily accomplish being miserable.....if we want to be sad, we can be sad.....if we want to be cynical, no problem.....why is it then that it is so difficult for some to CHOOSE to be happy? Why is it so difficult for some to CHOOSE to find delight in simple things around them? Why is it so difficult for some to CHOOSE to see the true joy and value of life? The answer? It's NOT difficult.....we just need to TRY IT!!!!!!! The more we try it, the easier it becomes!!!!

I challenge you! When faced with an obstacle this week, look hard at your options...find the option to be positive about. Find the option that is positive...not negative. Focus on the POSITIVE and see what happens......I believe it will all fall into place....you simply have to BELIEVE and be DETERMINED to make it so........YOU can make any life you imagine......Start today!!!! Start this very moment!!!!! ..........why not? What do you have to lose?

Please share with me your success!! I know you can do it!!!

Glenna