I need to lose weight. My teeth could be whiter. I don't have all my debt paid off yet. My car needs a new radiator tank. I'm not even sure why. I drink too much soda and don't have nearly enough energy to get through my day; don't get me started on my job - we'll be here all night. My kids are whiney, my dog is destructive and my eyesight is failing. I'm going to need a stronger prescription soon.
What? Not enjoying my company? I'm happy. Really. I appreciate life. I do. Don't I?
Sometimes we find ourselves tangled in a web of negativity. Have you ever watched someone after walking through a spider web? Arms and legs flailing, spitting out imagined grossness. It's hard to be happy, enjoying life when wrestling with all the things wrong with it.
Sometimes the things we feel are wrong with our lives are loud, relentless. Much like that kid poking his mother: "Mom. Mom. Mom. Mom. I need to talk to you. Mom. Mom." You can try to explain that you'll gladly be with him in a minute but he just doesn't give up, following you from room to room until finally you give in. And he wins. And you're exhausted and all you want to do is sit there and cry because no matter what you do nothing is right.
The trick is to try to pay more attention to what's right in your life than what's wrong.
Your challenge this week is to get rid of 10 complaints and replace them with 10 positive statements about what you appreciate in your life. Do this every single day. 10 good things each and every day. Written down on a piece of paper. Kept in a place you can see them. Taped on the bathroom mirror. Or refrigerator door. Or on the steering wheel in your car. Anywhere that you will see them and be reminded of how many good things you get to experience in life.
It might be hard at first. You may find yourself writing down, "I can breathe on my own." But, trust me. That really is AWESOME that you can breathe on your own. If you don't believe me, talk to someone on a medical ventilator. I'm almost positive they'd agree with me.
10 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT MY LIFE
Day 1
1.) Reading a good book that leaves me slightly exhausted at the end because I've lived several lives while reading it.
2.) Waking up to the smell of freshly cut grass.
3.) The sounds of toads croaking in the distance during a lightning storm.
4.) Finding forgotten money in the pocket of a coat I haven't worn in months.
5.) Hearing a great song on the radio just after I thought it would be absolutely impossible for another great song to be recorded.
6.) The sound of a cello.
7.) Laughing out loud unexpectedly.
8.) The sound of those little round air vents inside an airplane.
9.) Really crisp bed sheets.
10.) Finding a great pen to write with, especially if it's heavy.
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