To Be Happy or Not – the Choice is Mine

Recently my son and I were out grocery shopping, an activity neither of us is particularly enamoured of. Despite that, we usually have fun because we act a bit goofy. More accurately, I act goofy and he laughs. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do!

Eventually we’ve grabbed everything on the list and we roll on up to the checkout line. Yes, I use the checkout line. Using the checkout line helps keep people employed.

The cashier, a really friendly young guy, looks at us and says something about us being all happy and full of positive energy; what an awesome thing to say! I responded with something like “Hey, why shouldn’t I be happy? How I feel is up to me.”

Anyway, that exchange got me thinking.

One of my belief statements is about making people smile. It’s the one I take most seriously, and I’m one of the people I want to make smile.

There is much fuckery afoot in the world today. But, for me at least, there is much to feel positive and grateful about as well. My son is with me for the summer, I have wonderful friends, I’m fairly healthy, the Montreal Canadiens are improving, and my period of unemployment is over. So, yeah, I’ve got plenty to smile about.

I choose what influences my days and mood, nobody or nothing else does. I carve out time to do those things that bring me joy (e.g., a cigar and beverage in the sunshine, while listening to blues and classic rock). I do have days where things get to me, but not too often. Even on those days I can generally find something to smile about.

I’m generally a positive, upbeat person who tries to find fun and humour in just about everything. To varying degrees, I’ve been like this as long as I can remember. There have been things I’ve gone through that could have overwhelmed me and made me crumble, but they didn’t. I chose to learn from them, improve because of them, and be resilient. I think I’ve succeeded so far, but I’m likely not done yet.

I’m not oblivious to what’s happening in the world, but I’m not going to let it consume me or define how I’m going to live each day. Fuck me, that would be horrible.

And you. What do you do to get positivity and joy? You deserve them.

Be great today, be better tomorrow!

Cheers!

Connect with me on Bluesky: @chriswalker1964.bsky.social