It's Not Always Easy to Stay Positive

I try so hard to be a positive person.  



And I say try because often I do think it's a choice to be happy and positive.  We can choose to focus on the good or focus on the bad.  We can choose to let little annoyances get us down.  We can choose to focus on the gifts and joy in our lives.  We can count our blessings.  

But sometimes negative thoughts just seem to creep up on me when I'm not even aware.

Sometimes those gifts and joys are hard to remember and keep in the front of our minds.

After a long week with lots of little (and some not so little annoyances) creeping up on me I found myself getting into the shower this morning thinking "Ugh! My life sucks!  Can it get any worse?"

Of course my life does not suck and yep it could get a whole lot worse.  I am tired and cranky and worried and realized I was headed straight towards a pity party.
  • I have been battling an awful spring cold (or allergy flare up; I'm not really sure because I'm not as good at taking my allergy medicine as I should be). So I feel achy and blah!
  • I can't sleep at night since I'm all stuffed up and I end up being up late and waking early. So I am tired; so very tired.
  • Today I was woken up at 2:30 AM... at first I thought it was just my cold and inability to breathe but then I heard this weird plopping sound coming from out in the hallway.  I kept thinking it sounded like water dripping but it wasn't raining and it was coming from the HALLWAY....  I finally got up to investigate and found water all down the hall.  We have a geothermal heating unit in our attic and it had sprung a leak in the middle of the night.  We had a soaking wet ceiling and puddles on our hardwood floors.  I am tired because I started my day at 2:30 and I am worried over what the long term repair costs will be. 
  • Our cat has been to the vet twice in the past month and is still looking quite sickly; I'm worried about having to catch him, bring him again, and spending even more money on him.
  • My oldest son has poison ivy that keeps spreading despite my having washed everything I can possibly think of.  I'm wondering at what point I'll have to take him to the doctor and worried it will spread to his face and eyes. 
  • My car is making a horrible noise and we think it needs some repair work.  We know this is the first sign that we need to start preparing to replace it.  I am worried about my car breaking down when I'm out on the road and the cost of replacing/repairing it. 
  • I have been exercising for two weeks straight and still somehow managed to put on ANOTHER 2 pounds.  I'm trying to loose weight and it's so hard not to want to throw in the towel.  I'm sick of feeling down about how I look and how my clothes feel.

So yeah, not an ideal week but it could be worse.  



I just had to reverse my thinking and keep reminding myself of all the positive things in my life.  Of all the ways I am blessed and put what I was dealing with into perspective. 

Luckily I have one of those husbands who has got mad skills and even though it was 2:30 in the morning he was able to fix our heat pump and soak up most of the water.  We know it's not a final fix and we'll have to do some  more long term repairs but meanwhile we have working heat/AC and no more leaking mess.  I am so lucky to have such a wonderful, knowledgeable husband who always manages to come to our rescue.  His skills help keep all our repair costs down; car included.  

While I may have been griping about home ownership and all the stress that comes with owning a home I know I am so lucky to have a home; and a nice home at that!  

Luckily we have a savings account and while I am worried about dipping into it to pay for everything we listed above we do have some money set aside for repairs and unexpected expenses so this is not catastrophic.  We are so fortunate.  

I have three happy mostly healthy boys.  Even though Ian has spots of poison ivy all over his legs, arms and belly he assures me that the rash is not itchy and he's not in any discomfort.  For that I am grateful. 

While I do not enjoy being sick, this will pass and I am thankful that I do not suffer from any chronic illnesses or bouts of pain.  

While our cat may not be the healthiest right now he has lived a nice long life and the vet does not seem at all concerned that he's nearing the end of his life.  It may not be fun to catch him and bring him to the vet but it's a small price to pay for the happy smiles of the family when the cat is around. 

I may not love the way my clothes fit, but I still have clothes to wear.  I may hate working out and trying to change the numbers on the scale but at least my husband still finds me attractive.  I am able to work out and I CAN change as long as I keep working at it and commit to making lifelong changes in my lifestyle.  

I decided to go even further and remind myself:
  • Feeling sick and miserable this weeks means I'm usually healthy and well! Many people can not count their health as a blessing. 
  • Having a home to repair means I have a home and nice warm roof over my head. Many people in this world do not have a home to go home to. 
  • A car that needs repairs is better than having no car.
  • Needing to loose weight means I have food to eat.
  • If my biggest worry for my kids right now is a rash I am so lucky that they are so healthy!  I am so lucky to have a family and friends. Worrying about those we love is just part of life and I am lucky my life is so full of wonderful people.  
  • If I am tired today that just means I know what it feels like to be so well rested. I am so lucky to have a warm, soft, comfortable bed. 
I can't say these reminders turned my negative attitude right around and made me the happiest person today but they sure went along way to reminding myself just how lucky I am to have all that I do in my life.  

Comments

  1. Well done! I really enjoyed reading your turnaround process. I find writing like that really therapeutic. I had a few health scares this week (all fine) and my sister is having chemotherapy for breast cancer (thankfully all out) so I completely agree that we are so lucky to have our health. And I also find catching the cat to take her to the vet a pain! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, I find writing to be very therapeutic. I just have watch myself to make sure I don't share too much. Glad both you and your sister are healthy!

      Delete
  2. Perspective! I tend to fall into the cup is half empty if I don't watch myself. It also usually doesn't take too much to snap me out of the wrong perspective, fortunately!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have been making a conscious effort this past year or so to really focus on the positives in my life. I easily tend to fall into the "woe is me" but am realizing more and more that I can choose to ignore those feelings or talk myself out of them. My life may not be perfect but it's far from awful.

      Delete
  3. Love your perspective. I have to tell myself occasionally that I am blessed so much more than I deserve.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, I do seem to need to remind myself of that often too.

      Delete
  4. Great reminders! We are all blessed and just need to change our perspective, especially on those tough days! Visiting from #SocialButterflySunday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly! Thought that is often easier said than done isn't it?

      Delete
  5. Oh, that dreaded but oh so useful thing called perspective! It really sucks when I get all turned and twisted around. Yet, putting things back into perspective is so important and helpful, even if it doesn't 'solve' anything.

    I'm glad you were able to find your gratitude and perspective with all that's happening with you. And yes, tired (or hungry) are my biggest triggers when it comes to getting all down and throwing a pity party. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah I don't handle tired or hungry well at all! Unfortunately my kids are the same way...

      Delete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very relatable. It doesn't take much -- lack of a few basic essentials like rest and food -- to throw us off balance. (Speaking from experience here.) Gratitude is so powerful to rein us back in; gratitude, a nap (ha! maybe coffee), and a sandwich. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish I drank coffee on days like that; but alas I have acquired a taste for it. But I find chocolate goes a long way to making me feel better too! ;)

      Delete
  8. YES! Life sucks at times. Excuse the expression, but it is true. With that said, I'm glad you turned this around in the latter half of the post (I was beginning to get concerned) and chose to find the good in all the bad. On Monday I will be posting a post I wrote about Feeling Positive When Negativity Overwhelms...I hope you'll join me back at www.grammietime2.blogspot.com to read. I wrote it for myself (I get where you are) but hope it can bring some positive to others too. Thanks for sharing. I'm thankful for your honesty and your heart!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Gosh I'm sorry to hear you've been going through so much and I'm totally the same as you - I think we can choose to be happy and positive. At times though, it's ok when things get too much. I tend to find there are one or two people who I'm very close to who see the 'real' me, who can read me better than I can myself and are there for me when it all gets too much. But I also do what you do, and turn around that negativity. A lovely and inspiring post X #mg

    ReplyDelete
  10. oh I feel for you, you are right you are very blessed, but I know how some days it can all feel too much, and it is OK to have moments where we need to complain, or even cry. So I am sending a huge hug your way!!!! I love how you were able to write it all down and turn it around to see the positives, hug those beautiful children and good luck with the cat and all else xx #mg

    ReplyDelete
  11. I understand. It may not be a great time for you and your family at present but this will pass. It is appreciable about you that you are able to look at your silver linings even at this time. May I suggest to shift your focus away from worry (eliminating worry thoughts) to thoughts of gratitude.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I keep trying to eliminate those worry thoughts but I am so very unsuccessful at it. However, I do keep trying because worry really doesn't help anything and makes my anxiety so much worse.

      Delete
  12. Sometimes you just need a good moan for a few minutes and a hug from a mate. Then give yourself a bit of a shake and remind yourself of all the good things you've got going on. Here's hoping for good week for you and yours

    ReplyDelete
  13. I may need to read this post several times a day, for several days in a row! Is that so wrong? Keep up that great attitude. I need a little adjustment and I will fake it till I make it! Nice job momma! #mg

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do find that fake it till I make it saying works a lot of the time. It can be a real struggle to stay positive and adjust our attitudes. Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  14. It's all to easy to spiral into negativity on days/weeks like this but that's when it's more important than ever to try and focus on the positives. Well done for turning it around and reframing everything in a positive light x
    #Mg

    ReplyDelete
  15. I think it's fantastic that you are able to see the positives in what at first seems a whole lot of negatives coming at you. I too can get into a negative spiral and become very fearful eg. our car breaking down while on holiday. #mg

    ReplyDelete
  16. Everyone need to vent once in a while. It's human nature. You did it and managed to see the positives peeking through. Gratitude is something to be practiced. Doesn't mean that we will be perfect all the time. Good for you for starting an exercise program. Stick with it - you will reap benefits. It might take a while. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I do struggle with the sticking with it.

      Delete
  17. "And I say try because often I do think it's a choice to be happy and positive. We can choose to focus on the good or focus on the bad. We can choose to let little annoyances get us down. We can choose to focus on the gifts and joy in our lives. We can count our blessings."

    Love this!!! You are so right, we always have a choice! I love the positive out look to all the negative things going on! There is always something to be thankful for, if we will just look. God is so good! :)

    Man, I feel you on the working out and not loosing! I am right there with you! :)

    Thanks for linking up @LiveLifeWell

    Blessings,

    Amy

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Favorite TV Shows Growing Up in the 80's and early 90's

Dollar Store Candy Cane Wreath

Things That Make Me Laugh

What's Up Wednesday in November

Share Our Lives-- Where I Shop