Thursday, February 15, 2018

Focusing on my focus


As we all know, 99.9% of having a happy, peaceful life is attitude. So, lately I've been focusing on what my focus is. If I think I should be miserable, chances are, I will be. So, I'm trying to retrain my brain to shine a spotlight on the good things in my life.

Thoughts and circumstances are fleeting. No point in dwelling on those that bring me down. What's more? Why not also stretch the duration of things that lift me up? When I allow happy moments to grow joy in my heart and soul, they literally expand to block out pain, sorrow and regret.

Aggravation fades into the background when love and understanding take center stage.

And yes, I am human. I can't help but feel frustration and anger. But when they surface, I try to control how big a role they play in my life by switching my focus to positive outcomes, rather than negative circumstances. Or, at the very least, I try to see the humor in the situation.

I've never subscribed to the notion that one must be giddily positive at all times. Shit happens, as they say and sometimes, that shit becomes a literal shit-storm. That's when it teaches. That's how we learn and grow and move forward. Negativity is inspirational in a way that positivism can never be. It moves us to do better.

However, as I struggle with my hard earned lessons and spread that all important awareness, I am increasingly careful to keep my inner eye trained on the good things in life. Because the brighter they shine, the brighter my path becomes. And who wants to walk in darkness all the time? Not me!

Life Goals - Don't Be a Nobody


That's right, I said it. There are a lot of nobodies in the world and while I love some of them to pieces, I'm not that fond of their behavior and I wouldn't want to be one. So what's my idea of a nobody?

Well, nobodies are those people who make all the messes for the somebodies to clean up. Who used the last of the toilet paper without replacing the roll? Well, nobody, of course. And nobody spilled the food on the floor and left it either. Nobody let the trash overflow. It was nowhere near full last time nobody checked.

Nobody noticed the laundry piling up. Nobody cleaned up the doggy poo in the back yard. Nobody saw the faucet dripping in the kitchen. Nobody washed the dishes when it was time to do them. Nobody touched the mirrors and got their fingerprints all over them. Nobody weeded or watered the yard and garden, planted the flowers and veggies, trimmed the bushes, raked the lawn or even thought about it.

Apparently, nobody knew that when it snows, the walk needs shoveling because nobody ever takes care of that. Did you know it was important to conserve energy in winter months when the heating bill goes through the roof? Well, don't feel bad, nobody else seems aware of it either.

Nobody knows that when they eat, they get crumbs on the floor and table that need to be cleaned up. Nobody notices that there are no clean towels in the bathroom. Maybe that's because nobody showers daily. Eeew! Or maybe nobody saw the pile in the laundry room waiting to be folded and put away.

Nobody saw that someone spilled soda pop all over the floor. And if they did, and somehow, miraculously attempt to clean it up, well, nobody told them to use a wet mop. I mean, a dry dish towel is so much better. That way, you can get the dish towel so dirty that it can't be used as a dish towel again, plus, you get to leave a nice sticky residue on the floor.

Nobody saw the tracks they left when coming in from outside. Nobody knew that dirty hands equals dirty walls and germ covered surfaces. Nobody. Nobody took the time to pick up their dishes and bring them to the kitchen. Nobody bothered to retrieve their other belongings from common areas and put them away, either. Maybe nobody ever heard that saying about there being a place for everything and keeping everything in its place.

But guess what? Luckily, there are somebodies in this world. Because somehow, even though nobody noticed it, all of this happened and got taken care of by somebody, right?

Folks, I have a long way to go on the peace path. And being resentful of the nobodies is certainly a part of that. Likely because I'm exhausted from picking up after them. But at least, I can be at peace with the fact that I've never been and never will be a nobody.

I am a somebody and proud of it. How about you?