Daily Gratitude: It’s so simple. But it’s not easy. Maybe your goal for next week or next month could be living right now. Every time you start to bemoan the past or worry about the future, pull yourself into the world around you right now. Look at all the things you’re passing over. Open your eyes. Pick something that’s going on right now and think about it in a positive way. If you can’t think of something positive about the thing you picked, pick something else in your current moment. Keep doing that until you can think positively about the right now. Before vol state one day I was walking and doing hills. I started to worry because my pace had not improved and neither had my lungs. I started to worry about whether I could do the race or not. Then I spotted a new (to me) flower and focused on it. When I was done taking pix of that flower I just looked up and shouted to myself that I was just so grateful I was able to be out there no matter what. And that I am able to try to do the race. That got me in the right now. It does no good to wonder if I can do the race or not since it’s in the future. Who knows that will happen. But I knew I was happy right then. Try it!

Daily Gratitude: It’s important to know how you are using your time. It doesn’t matter if others think you’re wasting time as long as you are aware of what you are doing and why AND are content with it. As with most things it’s about awareness. I have repeatedly reviewed how I’m using my time especially the evening time. Sometimes I’m not happy with it and sometimes I am. When I’m not happy then it’s up to me to change my routine. Because I know what I am doing, I am able to modify activities to make myself happy. Then when i find myself doing something else and I examine the current routine, I may decide I’m ok with goofing off at night. Things change. You are the one who can decide if your time is wasted or not. Don’t let others determine that.

Daily Gratitude: Read this a few times. Then it will sink in. You must do everything you can to be happy now. Not just so you can have a happy ending but because our primary goal in life should be to be happy at all times. Don’t wait to be happy. Don’t make it a contingency outcome meaning don’t fall into the trap of “I’ll be happy when __” and you can fill in the blank. “I lose x pounds”, “I have x amount of money”; “I have the house I want”; “I am married and have a family”; etc. That rarely works. Be happy you are have that wish and are on your way towards it (if you are). That is something to celebrate. Don’t wait. Be happy. That should be another verse to “Don’t worry. Be happy.” Make it a goal to be happy right now. Then each day figure out what you can do to
make yourself happy. At the end of the day, review how the day went and what made you happy. Do this every day and work toward your daily goal. Then you will have a happy ending.