Something Borrowed: Today I Will Be Happy

Something Borrowed: Today I Will Be Happy It’s a fabulous day and I’m excited to bring to you “something borrowed!” A wonderful quote from Groucho Marx: “Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrive yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.” How many happy people do we know! One, two, three? Are you among the cheerful? For many of us it’s a little hard to feel uplifted when we feel rushed, overburdened, overwhelmed, overworked and sometimes overlooked. There are days that it seems everything’s against us. We might feel like there’s too much work and not enough hours, too many chiefs and not enough indians, too many choices and not enough assurances. No matter what we have going on –we have the power to change the depressing downward spiraling feeling that can steal our happy spirit. Take control and set chaos and discouragement straight! Bring life down a few notches – slow your thoughts down- cancel some things on your crowded calendar. Take a break, a day or a vacation to allow your blood pressure to cool off. Give yourself a chance to rejuvenate. Engage in a physical activity that will bring your adrenaline up! Tell dumb jokes until you laugh. Do something! The alternative would be to become depressed, in some cases cry, for other to punch a hole in the wall. Will you be cheerful or punch, cheerful or punch – agggh the answer is cheerful! Be content with whatever you do! Take pleasure in simple things, a sun rise, a quiet morning with no computers, televisions or people! Immerse yourself in creating something new. Begin to write an “attainable bucket list.” Try completing a project or toss one you never wanted to do. Now that’s liberating! You might even stare a mistake in the face and laugh! Why? Because now you’ll know you’d be crazy to ever do that again! We should be happy and blessed that we are capable of holding and consoling a hurting infant when it’s teething even if it’s been 3 months without uninterrupted sleep. Come on – it’s temporary! Be joyful even if we flunked a test, because now we know what it will take to succeed when we raise the bar. We can feel bittersweet and gratified when we can aid a loved one who has suffered hurt or a loss. Fulfilled and blessed to be in a position and physically strong to care for our parents or grandparents who are ill. The giving of our time and home sure beats the alternative of hospice, a stranger or a cold institution. There is even a silver lining when we’ve lost our job because then we’ll be able to see the greatness of God when He puts something more incredible in our lives. All moments of happiness, mediocrity or sadness will pass us with the same timing. We cannot rush time nor can we slow it down. So when life throws you a curve, straight ball, or strikes your arm don’t let it kill your spirit! Be happy where you today and with who you are becoming. Choose to be happy. You have just one day, today that you can count on to raise your spirit. “Yesterday is dead and tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet.” Say it! I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it!