The Choice is Yours

I talked to one of my besties on the phone last night. I'm not a big fan of phone talking, but there are a handful of folks that I will make the time for because the occasional Facebook post or text just doesn't cut it. He asked how I'm doing, I answered him, "Wonderful. Loving life." And I wasn't lying. And I know I wasn't lying because if I did have some complaining to do, it would've been to him. But no complaining came. At one point I felt bad because I was going on and on about how happy I am with life and wasn't even asking about his. But I couldn't stop myself. If was like this overflowing...joy. Yes. That's the word. Joy.

Everything that I'm involved in is going so well. I'm getting little opportunities here and there for all kinds of stuff. I feel that I'm progressing towards goals. I'm meeting SO many wonderful humans that make me laugh and make me think and bring out my passion. I love it.

Now, I'm always a realist. To a fault. I will never say things are perfect because of course they aren't. And will never be. Plus, I have seen too many movies to know that as soon as something is labeled "perfect", it is destroyed. Usually in a real gruesome way. Even in my most blissful state, I'm still my cynical self. Just, cynical with a smile. Aaaaaand I just found my new catch phrase.

Now for the secret, the way that I can be so happy every day even though I'm not in the profession I want to be in and I'm poor and I'm so far from my family and I'm tired and I'm single. Ready for it? Take notes, children. Because I want to be.

BAM! Rocked your world! Pick your jaws up. Every day is wonderful because I WANT it to be that way. All those inspirational posters with smiling women that say in cursive, "Happiness comes to those who seek it." weren't messing around. They're stupid and kidding themselves if they think anyone aside from middle school counselors is going to purchase one of those posters. But hey, at least we know that even if they make no profit, they're still happy.

The point is obvious. And nothing new. I haven't discovered anything, I've just finally put it into practice. I'm not waiting for someone or something else to validate me or bring me contentment. I'm doing that all on my own. Because, for reals, isn't life SO much better when you're happy? Isn't that what people constantly search for? But you can't find it somewhere else, you gotta be the one to bring on the glee. No. Stop. Not the TV show.

Everybody's gotta have something always. People get addicted to sadness. Gotye knows. He sings it in his song. And isn't one of the ways to break addiction, or start recovery, to decide that you want to quit? People love to have problems because by having problems, they can complain, and that gets attention and sympathy. What if, rather than thriving off the sympathy of others, we thrived on how Beautiful things are?

Whoa. This almost got deep. Don't take me too seriously because it should be noted that as I lay down this wisdom, I'm sipping on a glass of Shiraz and singing along to NSYNC. But honestly, doesn't the fact that those two things exist prove my point that the world is an amazing place to be a part of? The answer is yes.

So. After you read this, maybe make the choice to enjoy the rest of your day, no matter what? Because why the heck not? The worst that can happen is...what? You get too happy? Not possible. Or, don't. Stay mad. Let everything make you made. Continue to believe that the world is out to get you. While you do that, I'm going to be living. YOLO. (Ha! Yes! That actually works so well right there!)