Choosing Happy

All my life I have found something to be sad or unhappy about.  It was just what we did in our family.  *Insert happy goings on here*....*Insert yes but's here*...there was always a look at the negative in every happy moment.

Body image was negative.  Eating was negative.  Creativity was negative.  Being eccentric or "weird" was negative.  Body functions were negative.  Imperfections were negative.

Nothing was normal.  Everyone else was normal, we, were not.

So I grew up thinking everyone was better that me, could do it better than me and that I was sub par in every and all aspects.

As you well know, this leads to unhappiness, depression, anxiety and a myriad of other things that I won't even get into because they're in the past.

What I DIDN'T know, is that happiness is a choice.  Your likes and dislikes and eating and body functions and creativity and wonderful weirdness are all things you can't control.  But, should you chose to accept them and love them as part of who you are, something miraculous happens.

Happiness.

And it's a choice.  You have to consciously say to yourself, "This is me, I love who I am and I choose to be happy because I am a good person."

Some days it is harder than others and, like everyone, there are days when those negative thoughts creep in and dampen my day, sometimes for a few days at a time.  Then I see something or hear something or read something that reminds me that I am the only person in control of my happiness.  And that I can do it.  I am strong enough and good enough and I have love and support in my life.

Bad things happen to everyone.  People are mean.  The world can be unfair and cruel.

This too shall pass.

The only consistent thing in this world is change.  Nothing will forever be the same.

I choose happiness.  I choose love.  I choose acceptance.  I choose forgiveness, both for myself and for others.

I have an amazing life and I've worked hard to get here.  No one can take it away from me!