Just when you’re ready to give up …

It feels like the whole world is in shambles. It doesn’t matter in which country you live, there’s another crisis every day and scandals more often than that. Lying and cheating have become the new normal.  I’ve never seen so much lawlessness, so much anger, hatred and cruelty.

Everywhere I turn, including online in comments I read on various posts, articles and blogs, people are mean-spirited, aggressive, antagonistic and rude. Like they’re just spoiling for a fight. Disagree with something or someone and you can expect to be attacked, abused actually — verbally and

Glass half full …

Read this article over the weekend in Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper. The author is talking to parents about how to raise optimistic children in pessimistic times, but I think it’s a great message for all of us to keep in mind as we navigate our way through life.

Happy Days — http://time.com/5370788/raising-optimistic-kids-pessimistic-times/

 

 

Cautiously optimistic …

Yes, I’m superstitious.  And that’s why I try to be careful about making predictions.  Prognosticating.  Assuming.  Planning ahead.  Counting my chickens.  Because the last thing I want to do is jinx myself.  Put a hex on things.  You know.  Screw things up.  And then curse myself forever and a day for having such a big mouth, for blowing it.

So let’s just say the signs are all pointing in the right direction.

Saturday, while I was out and about, I could see that restaurants and cafes had their terraces open; and, people were out there, enjoying the weather.  The streets were packed.  Old folks,

Day 213. Positive Outlook

It’s so interesting.  Yesterday I wrote about how I refused to let a bunch of cranky people ruin my day.  This morning I decided to read a magazine I found inserted in the newspaper the other day.  It’s one I’m familiar with, already.  It’s called Tonic and it’s all about living well.  As in living healthy.

They write about yoga and natural remedies, nutrition, fitness and all that good stuff.  That’s so good for us.  You know.

Anyway, don’t they have an article in there about the benefits of optimism.  Positive thinking.  I kid you not.  Talk about timing.  Bizarre, isn’t it?  Coming the day after I decided to ignore the nastiness around me, and keep a smile on my face; and in my heart.

Of course I read the story.

I’ve always been a positive person.  I really have always tried to see the bright side.  To believe everything works

Day 148. Right Foot

It’s here.  After all the anticipating.  Reflecting.  And reviewing.  After all the planning.  Promising.  Goal-setting.  Resolving.  After all the partying.  Crazy hats.  Noise-making.  Party favours.  Popping corks.  Dancing.  Dining.  Drinking.  Kissing.

After the countdowns.  Clock-watching.  Drum rolls.  Crowds.  Couples.  Tourists.  Revellers.  After all the singing.  Cheering.  Clapping.  Shouting.  Texting.  And calling.

After all the champagne’s gone.  The tabs settled.  The whistles discarded.  The aspirins taken.  The make-up removed.  The shoes kicked off.  The clothes dropped on the floor.  The beds turned down.  And occupied.  The pillows pounded.  The lights off.

After the morning after.  The hangovers.  The headaches.  The red eyes.  The sore throats.  The upset stomachs.  The moans.  The groans.  The recriminations.

It’s here.  2013.