Glad Journal

I have been made aware this day of the many blessings that I have. I want to express my joy and love of life.

It wasn’t alway so. I have had moments where I was dragging my self along, just to get through each day. Wishing the day would be over so I could sleep and forget the unpleasant things in my life. 

I loved to sleep in when I was younger. I could easily sleep until noon. My parents would call down to wake me up and eventually I would drag out of bed and come upstairs to get something to eat. Half the day would be gone and it would take me hours to get going.

I grew out of that phase, and now I enjoy the beauty of a sunrise, the freshness of the new day. I still sleep in occasionally. Sometimes my body needs the extra rest.

I greet each new day with the anticipation of Christmas morning. As a kid I couldn’t wait for Christmas morning to arrive. We would gather and watch each person open their presents. In my family we took turns opening presents. In a family of 8 children, it takes awhile for everyone to get through all the presents. Christmas was all about the anticipation of the moment. Ripping that paper and discovering a new toy or outfit. Once everyone had opened all the presents and the paper had been picked up, we would open each package and spend the rest of the day in Christmas heaven. We didn’t care that we were still in our pajama’s. Breakfast lasted most of the day. 

As I got older I helped on Christmas Eve to get things ready for my younger brothers. I enjoyed assembling the new toys, talking with my parents, and feeling the spirit of Christmas.

There was a time in my life when I didn’t celebrate Christmas. I was not happy with life. I did not anticipate the new day, I slept in, missing the beauty of the sunrise, and the freshness of new possibilities.

I blamed others for my state of mind and unhappiness. The job. The government. The barking dogs. The garbage on the road. If only “They” would change, then I would be happy. It took years for me to see, “They” could never make me happy. Only I could make that change and conscious choice to be happy.

I have watched Pollyanna many times over the years. Each time I enjoy her enthusiasm and innocence. Her way of showing others a new way of looking at life and the possibilities. I have taken that lesson and used it to change my life.

I keep a glad journal. When I have a good day hiking, learn a new truth, or discover a new happy song, I record it in my book. I listen to happy and uplifting music. I rarely listen to anything that is depressing or degrading. I am not interested in betrayed love, dead hound dogs, or how to kill a lover. My music library is now nearing 3,800 songs. I listen to music from many cultures and era’s. There are many inspired composers and talented vocalists to help enhance each day.

In my old life, I kept another kind of journal. It was a record of all my hurts and wounds caused by betrayals and hurtful people. I carefully relived each event and made sure to share these unhappy experiences with anyone who would listen. I found comfort in others who shared my unhappiness. I helped to stir the pot of life’s unhappy ingredients with other unhappy chiefs. At the end of the cook-off we were all losers.

Feelings are one of the ways that I now measure my experiences. Do I feel depressed? Am I angry? Am I sickened? ... OR ... Does this bring me fulfillment? Do I feel happy? Do I feel uplifted? 

My life has been filled with happy and unhappy lessons and experiences that have shaped and refined me. My book of life is not that different from anyone else’s. We tell our stories. The choice of which stories we choose ... that is up to us.