Choosing to break out the joy

Photo © K. Hall

Here in the northeast, the cold, raw weather of March has continued its grip on April. I hear lots of grumbling and anger about the snow that still blankets the lawns and lines the roadsides, and about the storm just last week that dumped upwards of 6”-8” of more heavy, wet stuff in our area.

I admit that I, too, have been annoyed by seemingly late arrival of spring. However, as I remind myself, there isn’t anything I can do about the weather.

However, there is a lot I can do about my attitude.

If you have read much of anything here at my blog, you probably have noticed that I am a glass more than half full kind of person. If you are new here-Welcome!-and have only read the name of my blog-Too Darn Happy-well, that probably tells you how full my glass is the majority of the time.

I learned long ago that we all make a choice how optimistically-or not-we approach the struggles in our families, the difficulties at work, the vagaries of the weather, and everything else that fills our hours. The challenge is to get our heads above the crashing waves while we are fighting the flotsam and jetsam of the day as it grabs at our ankles, eager to drag us down to the depths.

How do we do that? With counter-intuitive behavior.

By acting as though we are happy and positive, even if we start with a bit of a begrudging heart. Our behavior acts as a trigger on our emotions. Don’t believe me? Sit down, slouch, slump your shoulders and lower your head in a hopeless fashion. How much delight are you feeling?

Studies show that smiling actually triggers and contributes to a better mood. Who knew?

So. Rather than walking around, angry and moping at how you are being tossed about by the ebb and flow of life, and saying you would be happy if conditions were different, try out this approach instead. Your prescription for a more satisfying, pleasurable day begins with smiles, and I encourage you to enjoy that refreshing flow of happiness that will begin to course through your veins.

Onward to joy!

Tell me about how you have moved forward to a more joyful place this week.

PS-About that photo...my dear hubbie and I were interminably tired of winter a few years back, so one sunny sort of "spring really is coming day", we pulled the kayaks down to the still frozen pond and had loads of laughs as we did lots of summery silly things on the ice. And, yes, we felt much happier and lighter of heart afterwards.

Welcome Spring!

Crocus © K. Hall

Spring has arrived! Warm sunshine. Green grass. Crocuses. Gentle breezes. Soft earth that yields to the weight of bare feet.

But wait. God is not quite done with winter. He still has some batter in the bottom of his great mixing bowl that he scrapes out and drops down upon the New England landscape. More cold. Snow. Lots of slush. Biting winds. Oh, and here’s some overnight temperatures that freeze the ground again.

My attitude needs some adjusting in regards to the combination these season-ings, as I am just not really enjoying the melding of the two. It’s like I had my heart set on chocolate, and I bit into anchovies. Ewww. 

What does it all actually look like? Well....

We have side roads like this.

 And they change to this.

And downtowns like this. At noon.
When the spring sun is supposed to be shining.

And this poor guy. Standing out in the fresh air, thinking the corner has been turned, really looking forward to contentedly chewing on some of that tender new growth, only to get right in the middle of the seasonal mix-up, wondering to himself what the heck happened...
I would say he is blue at the prospect of missing his spring salad mix...

How are you handling your seasons of change?