Happygladthanksfun

Boy, the last few entries here have been pretty depressing.  While they have been completely honest, and while I have more bad days than good, and while I spend way too much time in my head examining the dismal outlook that is my future, that’s not the whole story.  Sometimes I do have good days, sometimes it’s just a few good moments throughout the day, but there is never a day in my life, or anyone’s, that doesn’t have at least one positive moment.  I don’t intentionally withhold talking about those positive moments — I don’t discuss them because I simply don’t recognize them.  But this blog is not intended to be Woe Is Mo.

“It’s important to remind ourselves that the world doesn’t always suck.”

That’s a quote from this article from last Thanksgiving  about gratitude, and how expressing gratitude, to ourselves and to others, can actually change your brain chemistry.  Most people suggest keeping a gratitude journal, a daily log of 3-5 things you are grateful for.  I’ve tried this in the past, and I have just found it to be too hokey for me.

My friend Becca, though, presented recently a great alternative  that’s along the same linss, but not quite so touchy-feely (at least not to me).  This is the Jewish month of Adar, where people are commanded to be happy.  Becca has resolved to post one happy thing — or song — every day for the month.  I’m not Jewish, but I don’t think it’s required for me to follow Becca’s lead.  I thought originally I would do it for the month of March, to have a solid, measurable goal.

This is also similar to the Grace in Small Things project, founded by one of my favorite writers.  GiST generally suggests posting every day five things, small things, in which you find grace.  However, they are flexible in accepting grace in whatever form, however often, whenever possible.

Normally, this is the type of thing I would undertake as a challenge, requiring my participation daily for a set period of time.  I’m not going to do that this time.  Because in those circumstances, like in most everything, I am really all or nothing when it comes to myself and my self-imposed obligations.  The first day I would miss, I will have failed the project, never to continue again.

This time, I’ve just created a category just for good things.  Things I’m grateful for, things I’m happy about, songs that cheer me up.  And from time to time, I will post things in this category, hopefully several times a week.  Post here in the comments if I start slacking off.  Not only is it important that I find something to enjoy every day, but I need to stay connected as well, and all too often this is the only way it’s possible for me to do so.

But it is possible.  I am grateful for this technology, this media, that helps me keep some link to the outside world.  There.  That’s my first Thing.