LIVING THE GOOD LIFE

Yesterday Sarah, Thomas, Beau and I walked down to the lake. After spending a little time at the dam, we went to the beach. As we were letting Beau frolic in the water and Thomas skip rocks, Sarah and I watched the geese slowly swimming towards us. Sarah commented how great it would be to be like the geese. They were in no hurry to get anywhere. Their whole life is about eating, sleeping and pooping. They didn't have a care in the world. I told Sarah that we could be like them but she'd probably be bored. It does make a person stop to ponder how we live our lives. Are we really happy with what we choose to do?

A couple times in my life I've had people make comments about their lives that made me sit back and wonder. Once, a long time ago, I was in a local grocery store that I had briefly worked at. I considered the job to be the worse that I ever had. As I was chatting with the check out woman she came out with "I LOVE my job! I will probably work here forever!" She really meant it. She loved her job and since she must have spent 40 hours every week there, she apparently loved her simple little life. She was quite young, in her early 20's. To tell you the truth, my first reaction was shock. How could this be? My second reaction was to admire her for her great outlook on life. In the end, who am I to say that her life is simple. Her life is enriched and fulfilling. All because of her positive attitude.

Even longer ago, I was still living in New Hampshire and working as a cashier at the local hospital cafeteria. I did like that job most of the time and have many fond memories of the people I worked with. Another cashier, Evelyn, an older woman, seemed to be a bit of a grump. One day I had a chance to look beyond her grumpy side and find out that she too enjoyed life. How many of us in New Hampshire liked to complain about the long, cold winter? Not Evelyn, she loved the winter. She lived for the winter because she loved to ride snowmobiles. When she talked of this her eyes lit up. I guess she'll never be a snowbird heading to Florida for the winter.

In general I love my life but many times I choose to complain instead of appreciate. Gratefulness is not something that always comes naturally to me. Sometimes it does but all to often I get sucked into the annoyances. When I look at the big picture, I realize that all these negative events that are seemingly crucial at the time, are really just a blip on the radar of life.

Recently I had a situation that once again caused me to focus on my health. A new problem. I spent one day turning it over, around and sideways. I spent another day with it churning around in my subconscious. The emotions leaving a hole bouncing around in my stomach. Today, the third day, I am going to try my darnedest to get it out of there. It is not something that is affecting the way I feel physically, just another thing to worry about. Where did worry ever get anyone?

As I said, sometimes having a positive attitude is difficult for me but more and more I am trying to learn to say "I love my life!"