Life Is Good

 

Happy New Year!! Welcome to 2016 and the good life!

In the words of Kanye West (ok, I know that sounds strange but stick with me) “I’m living the good life.”  My good life didn’t begin this morning at midnight (1/1/16) nor did it start last year or the year before.  It began the moment I decided to view my life as good.

Yesterday I was visiting my social networking Facebook and reading end of the  year status updates.  What I saw there caused me great concern. A number of the updates focused upon what a bad year 2015 was: how awful it was for them, how much they’d endured. I pondered these updates and grew sad.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not some sort of Pollyannaish (my word) woman. Race relations in this country seem to be going more backward than forward. I’m concerned about my son, a young black man, as he moves about in a cultural environment that sees him as threatening despite the fact that he is not. I can’t stomach the fact that Donald Triump might possibly become president. I have suffered the loss of an uncle and a grandfather in the past year. Yes, all of this is true but I live a good life.

Though I lost 2 relatives I still have 2 grandmothers who are alive.  Not many people can say this at the ripe old age of 5o (this is also where having ancestors who divorced comes in handy, you have a larger pool) and I am so thankful. Though death is a sad part of life it is also inevitable, that whole circle of life thing.  And in the true circle of life, I know of beautiful babies who were born in 2015.

I decided a few years back that my happiness is independent of how much money I have, whether all of my bills are paid, and whether I’m eating crab cakes or tuna fish. Happiness is my choice. And in the choice to be happy the realization comes that indeed life is good.

Through my Facebook network, I’ve watched people battle illness (cancer and ALS specifically) in the past year.  Some have lost the battle and others continue to fight/press on.  I have also watched those who’ve suffered loss. What I see as a common thread is that for most of these people they see their life as good, even as they endure.

Making the decision to change your mindset is not easy.  It is also not instant. There are times when you fall backward into your woes. That does not indicate failure. It indicates humanity. Thus, you give yourself that moment and decide again in the next moment to be happy and live your good life.

So, my friends, I’m dropping in to tell you that 2016 will indeed be a better year than 2015 especailly once you decide that IT IS SO!

“I’m living the good life… Hey, hey, hey, I’m good!”

Spread Love,

Peace and Blessings