Choices....

I need to stop talking to my friends.... they make me think, and some of them drive me crazy.

The other day I was talking to a gal who was pontificating about all she saw wrong in the world. It started with my town and worked its way outward. As I listened I heard a theme... I theme I've heard over and over again. I don't know if it's because I'm in a nursing program with a bunch of stressed out women, or because I watch to much tv.... but I hear more and more of people lamenting the state of the world around them, and declaring it to be in utter despair and yet doing nothing to fix it.

So here's what I told her.....

You know, I grew up in a far better neighborhood then the one you're describing now. I went to a private school, and I am here to tell you that all the nonsense that you are talking about that only happens in a small town... happened in my school. It happened in my private school with all the wealthy parents from the nice little city on the water. It happens everywhere... it's how you choose to deal with it that matters.

She kinda looked at me funny, and began to disagree, yet I couldn't help but think while she was talking....

Bad stuff happens everywhere. Bad things happen to good people. You can not however, let that dictate your life. Your life, your happiness is your choice! People think I'm a little crazy because I am always in a decent mood. Heck, my own father's school of thought is that I don't take a darn thing serious, and all I do is joke around. The fact of the matter is... I take a lot of things seriously, and a lot of things bother me. I'm not perfect, I get angry, I get depressed.... and I can be a royal witch. (ask the guy I was married too... I'm sure he'll attest to that) However, when it comes right down to it I get to decide how much a stressor going to affect me. Bitterness and anger can weigh on a person, it can cause legitimate health issues. Why then would I let someone else's actions have that much power over me?

Each and every morning when I wake up I have a choice. I have the choice to roll out of bed and decide to whine and moan about everything wrong with the world, and commiserate with those whom I meet, or I can attempt to do my part to make the world a better place. Sure, it's my world... and my world is rather small. But if it brings a smile to your face... then I'm happy.

This is who I am.... I'll help the little old lady load her groceries in her car, or look for her receipt... not because I want her to thank me, not because I want a crown in heaven... but because we're all in this together. We all have a 100 things to do at any given moment and we all could use a little help. If I'm sitting at home and my friend is stuck at work I'll bring her food... not because she's my friend, but because she's a person with a need.

If when I die, you remember nothing from me, other than my big hair... remember this....

You have a choice. You can make the world a better place, one person at a time or you can be miserable and focus on all the bad that happens and the fact that no one is fixing it. Be happy in the now... plan for the future, but enjoy the moment, find the humor in the situation right now! My question is..... You only get one chance at life, why not make it something you enjoy rather than endure?