On being happy.

Yesterday was not one of my finest days. Daycare was closed so the kids were home, we were having our new furnace installed, and I was trying to manage a nonstop barrage of work emails in between reading Thomas books, playing Elefun and trying to entertain an unhappy little Elijah.

Needless to say, I was stressed. And this fact was confirmed when someone mentioned to me that I seemed to be in a grumpy mood.

That comment really made me think. There is so much in my life that I cannot control. Things aren't always what I wish they could be. I get annoyed. My feelings get hurt.

I have a choice. I can either let these thoughts drive me crazy, or I can focus on what makes me happy. It's the difference between looking at the cup as being half-full vs. half-empty. The difference between appreciating the way things are vs. focusing on what they could be.

So, I spent some time thinking about my day in an optimistic light. Yes, I had to be up at 5:30 to catch a train, but at least baby Elijah slept until 6:00 (for the first time in months!). And I had to spend 6 hours on a train, but at least it was comfortable, and gave me time to catch up on work and my reading. And I didn't get home until after 7:00, but at least I made it home before bedtime and was greeted with hugs and wet toddler kisses.

I am so lucky. I have people in my life who I love, and people who love me. I have a job where I am happy and busy and people respect me. I have a fantastic family and friends, and two little boys who mean everything to me.

I need to focus on the things that make my life full, to better appreciate my little world.