Staying Positive

Blessings are those things that make life worth while, yet they are also those things that we can overlook or  easily forget, especially those small blessings that fill the spaces between “major” life events. I know that I am guilty of focusing on the task at hand or the latest thing to go wrong (which is even worse) instead of keeping my mind on the good things that happen. I have an FB friend who continually posts “Stay Positive” and even went so far as to explain that it wasn’t just a flippant saying but truly a way of life.

This is my dad and me staying positve.

When I am faced with seeing things positively or negatively, I generally feel that things will work out and that, in the end, the good outweighs the bad. I must confess, however, that this school year, I have found that I am loosing sight of the big picture and am allowing myself to indulge in wading in the negative side of things. A puddle of pessimism if you will, which, left unchecked, will grow. Here I am, checking myself. And not in that downward spiral being negative on myself for not being more positive kind of way, but in the truly staying positive with real life evidence to back it up kind of way.

This idea of literally counting my blessings has been rolling in my head for a bit now and his reminder of lifestyle over tagline boosted me to create a list of blessings. The idea being akin to daily bread, you know, as in “give us this day…” and focusing on the small, could-possibly-fall-through-the-cracks kind of tidbits that I am privy to on a daily basis. Although it is true that there will be days that I am bowled over by Heavenly favor (which really, shouldn’t I be everyday when I actually consider all that God has given me), the main focus of this “track” sheet will be to remind myself of the good things, even on the days that feel like they are plotting against me.

So, I've decided to have this open for viewing. I strive to be Pathologically Optimistic; the daily posts will be similar to the “high/low” game, you know, without the low. I hope you enjoy and feel inspired to do something similar. I would also love if you shared your highlight of the day with me.

An Open Letter

To Those Who Create:


Thank you.

For your bravery and generosity to share a piece of yourself, thank you. For your words, songs, images, thank you. For your inspiration, thank you.

There are so many distractions and stresses in this world, it so nice to be reminded of its immense beauty. Sometimes the beauty is from the ashes, but there is beauty just the same. Other times it is a matter of capturing a moment of pure bliss that reminds us of the capacity for joy in life.

It is a brilliance to see this yourself, and (as corny as it may sound) it is a gift when you let the world in on your view of things. Whether that perspective is melodic or seen through a viewfinder, it is unique. It is art and, more profoundly, a window to the artist.

So much is told about a photographer by the focus of her photos, her portfolio. What an insight song lyrics can give to a your history and philosophy. How telling it is that you can write about stories and observations that add laughter to the lives of your friends (and subscribers). I am blessed to have so many selflessly creative friends who put it all out there. You expose so much of yourself in the quest to share your creations and that is down right noble.

It is not an easy thing to put your work out there, so, once again I thank you.

Sincerely,
One Who Has Been Inspired

PS. I know the 'thank you' is a little vague, but follow the links to see, read, listen to the details.

Musing....The "Emo"

They say (in the proverbial sense) that weather has a lot to do with one’s emotional state of being: the idea that there are more depressed people in gloomy climates than in tropical ones, yadda, yadda. Perhaps this is true, perhaps not. Personally, I pull for the idea that emotional well-being is a state of mind that one controls oneself; however, it must be noted that this is not an impenetrable tower. One can be infected, as it were, by surrounding persons. I say this because there are days where I feel as though my noble intentions of being upbeat are dashed by some of my students’ teenage melancholy, as if their “emo” were infectious.


Now, I am not going to blame all my sour days on these walking Mood Swings; after all, I do have my own days of walking up on the wrong side of the world. I will, however, say that being surrounded by heightened emotions all day, every day, begins to wear on me. Stupid things that I can normally blow off suddenly seem catastrophic. An ignored email (phone call, text, what have you) that would normally be attributed to a busy life becomes a conscious decision to send me a message. My already analytic brain goes into hyper-drive, and I must make myself take a step back. I determine to have a good week and this nagging, melodramatic nonsense vies to get in.

It is frustrating.

It is work to push it back.

But I am taking a stand. I say no to the “emo," regardless of how many of its carriers sit in my classroom. True, it is harder to pull someone up than down, but harder does not equal impossible. If I can catch a bad mood, surely I can spread a good one.

Now, if I can just avoid catching “the dumb” that has been making its way 'round school...