I’ve had a rough time over the last year and a half. If you have read any of my blogs you have read only a portion of the emotional roller coaster I have been on. Part of it is the fact that I’m my own worst enemy, and part of it is just life. My mom once made a very valid comment when she said, “You put so much on yourself in a general day, week, and year that it’s only natural that all of that comes with a little more stress and crazy than most people deal with.” That is true.
I’m ADD, and I’m not medicated. I have a hard time sitting and doing nothing. My mind races 100 miles an hour, and I’m always planning the next job, task, adventure, or whatever comes to my mind. I believe if you are not growing you are dying. I also believe in living outside my comfort zone, and pushing myself to do things I’ve never done. If you are my friend, coworker, or family member then you know this about me, and I have probably attempted to push you as hard as I push myself!
So the other day I read an article about the power of positive thinking. It made a lot of sense to me. I have no control over what life is going to throw at me. However, I have all the control over how I react to it! Yes, I know what you are thinking right now, because when I shared this new adventure with my boss he looked at me with a half cocked smile that silently said, “Oh lord….”
The article reminded me of a guy that used to work for us named Josh. He was that guy that always one upped everyone. If you climbed Pikes Peak then he climbed to the top of Mount Everest. You know….that guy! However, he was also one of the most positive people I ever met. One day he had a flat tire on the way to work. When he finally arrived I said, “I’m so sorry your morning started out so rough.” He said, “Nah, atleast I didn’t have a blow out and wreck my car!” Well that’s one way to think of it! He went from being a canvasser making minimal money to now making over $300k per year. He recently won $50,000 on a scratch off lottery ticket. Every time I see his post or talk with him something great is happening in his life. So as annoying as he could be…he also proved to me the power of positive thinking!
So I decided to try it. I woke up determined to find the good out of whatever came my way. I started putting on my makeup and dropped my eye shadow…broke it. Oh well…luckily I’ve got a ton more eye shadows I can use. Ok, so that positive thinking wasn’t so bad! So then I got in my car to leave and my wake up song from a couple of years ago came on. Boom…it’s time to dance and sing in my car! “Hopped up out the bed turn my swag on…Took a look in the mirror said what’s up….Yeah I’m getting money oh!” I’m feeling good, and ready to get to work. Typical day of solving problems, negotiating contracts, and trying to keep my head above water. During all this there were a few funny things that happened.
I had to call one of my Project Managers to inform him we accidentally double paid him his bonus. So we were going to have to pull it back. The conversation went something like this, “Hey Brucks, I got some bad news. I accidentally paid you your bonus twice so I’m going to have to pull it back off another check. However, don’t worry I won’t tap you all at once…I’ll spread it out over the next few weeks.” He started busting out laughing. OH MY GOSH! “Brucks, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean “tap” you like that!” He said, “I know what you meant, but that was funny!” Then I’m clicking over to answer another call from one of my reps and I said, “He buddy!” He said, “Hey mamma!” I replied, “Mama?” He said, “Well you called me daddy!” “Ummmm, let’s get something straight…never in this lifetime will I call you daddy! If you hear that it must be a mistake!” We both started dying laughing.
As my day concludes I had to go by a retail store to get a new shirt for a ribbon cutting we were having the next day. I’m excited because I have what they call DB Perk Bucks. This means I save money…and who doesn’t like to save money?!? I find the perfect shirt, head to the counter to pay, and realize I left my perk bucks in my other car. Ugh. So I say to the lady, “Oh no, I left my perk bucks!” She replied, “Well there is nothing I can do about it.” At this point I would typically open a can of whoop ass on her, but no I’m focusing on the power of positive thinking. So I reply (with a smile of course) “Well aren’t you a bundle of customer service!” She looked at me oddly and said, “I was just saying.” I replied (still smiling) “Well a polite response would have been, “I’m so sorry you forgot your perk bucks, but bring them next time because they never expire!” She rolled her eyes and said, “Do you want your receipt in the bag or with you?” I replied (still smiling!) “Well I wouldn’t want to upset you any more than I already have so what would you like me to do?” She replied, “I would keep it with you so you don’t lose it.” I replied, “Great idea, I’ll do that!” I chose not to let her get me down. Then I turned around to see the lady behind me grinning from ear to ear. I could have gotten mad. I could have let this ruin my day. Instead, I chose to put her no customer service ass into place, and keep smiling in the process! In doing so I also made the lady behind me smile! I told this story to my son, and he said, “Mom you do realize just because you smile doesn’t mean you are actually being nice and positive!” He may be right, but smiling through it made me feel positive!
I say this story to tell you that every day will have it’s obstacles. It’s called life. We have no control over what life will throw at us, but we do have control over how we respond to it. Since that day I have chose the path of positive thinking. I have found that my stress level has gone down, people respond to me differently, when I smile people smile back, and if my positive makes atleast one other person’s day, then it was worth it! I challenge you to try it. Love your life, and it will love you back.