Life is all about choices. Like: Remove your shoes, or scrub the floor. Gee. Speaking of which, never laugh at your wife’s choices. You’re one of them. Heh. So, have you convinced yourself that happiness is something that happens to some folks and not others? Well, guess what? You can actually choose to be happy. What do you choose today: anger, hate, sadness, or love? If you spend your precious days dwelling on the past or fretting about the future, what do you suppose happens to your “present”?
Hmm…so you’re in energy-saving mode again. You may have just realized how boring your life is when someone asked you what you do for fun. Sheesh. Have you allowed your days to devolve into a routine-filled blur? Perhaps it’s time to stir it up a bit. Stop waiting for the next special occasion. Why not make this moment count? Want to break out of that rut? Step out of your comfort zone and sprinkle some excitement or even adventure into your life. Challenge yourself. Break your own record from the last 5K. Heck, try a new flavor of coffee. Speaking of which, don’t you love how coffee tricks you into thinking you’re in a good mood for about 27 minutes? Lol. Believe it or not, happy people make sure to schedule joy into their days. What’s your pleasure? A nice, long nap (your favorite treat after a long day), lighting candles, or just listening and dancing to your all-time-favorite music?
If the temperature is less than your age, you don’t even get out of bed? Seems as if you need to be recharged, rejuvenated, and refreshed. Go outdoors. Try standing on your head. That’ll surely change your perspective. Heh. Truth be told, there is no autocorrect function for our life choices. The smallest decision can change your life forever.
Just think. Some day you will be nothing but a memory for some people. Do your best to be a good one. Celebrate every chance you get. Sure, life can be so dang serious. When all else fails, watch a hilarious comedy. You, too, can find humor in the mundane, if you try. Change the landscape of your home and freshen it up a bit. A brand new comforter will always do the trick. Throw in a pair of fuzzy socks while you’re at it.
I know. You’ll stop saying, “I’ll do it tomorrow, tomorrow.” So how do you keep your life interesting? Okay, when was the last time you tried a new food? Is it pizza o’clock again? I thought so. C’mon, be daring. Your taste buds deserve some new flavors for a change.
Do one simple thing that you have been putting off forever. Small steps are what build momentum. Progress and results do not happen at once; they happen gradually, as you continue taking those baby steps in the right direction.
Be the best husband, wife, friend, son, and daughter that you can possibly be. You may not agree or even understand some of your loved ones or friends’ choices. Accept that, and show them kindness anyway. Disagreements are inevitable, but disrespect is not.
Make a list of all the minor frustrations you experience on any given day and take a bite out of them. Faucet still leaking? Paperwork long overdue? Stop letting small annoyances suck the energy out of your day. Eliminate them one at a time, please. Stop living at work, and start working at living.
You may consider limiting the amount of news you watch. Most of it is fear-based and can easily ruin a perfectly beautiful day. And please do not hold grudges. They do nothing but mentally wear you out and make you miserable. You know what they say: “If you hold grudges, your hands aren’t free to catch blessings.”
No need to complicate matters, sweet friends. Get to bed at a decent hour; don’t allow yourself to get too angry, and never let the sun set on an argument. Oh, and life is truly not about your “stuff.” No one’s getting up at your funeral and saying: “She had a really expensive couch and great shoes.” Think about what you loved as a child, before you had to worry about your career. What was it? Ask your loved ones and friends when you seem the happiest. You may not always be the best judge of you.
Don’t fret, sweet friends. When you lose all your excuses, you’ll find your results. After all, it’s been said: “If you love life, sometimes it even loves you back.”
Caroline is a licensed psychotherapist, crisis counselor, and writer with an office in Queens. She works with individuals, couples, and families. Appointments are available throughout the week and weekends. She can be reached at 917-717-1775 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at facebook.com/pages/Safe-Haven-Healing.
