Maintain a positive attitude

that everyone around me is experiencing some sort of sadness, and yet I am not. I’m thankful that I have been able to encourage others, and not let their sadness overwhelm me as it has them.

a momentary (and very brief) case of the grumpys yesterday morning, I have once again managed to maintain a positive attitude. This, in spite of the fact that today was the first day of our week-long celebration of Christmas, in which myself, my husband, and a few other (extremely appreciated) people set up and work at all week long. We set up (completely ‘from scratch’ a stage, sound system (everything to give Christmas concerts), put up all decorations, and we also set up tables, etc. so that people can eat. All in all, it is a day full of possiblities for grumping, BUT I DIDN’T!!!

Yippy!!!

And if anyone is interested in seeing more about what I’m talking about, check out www.garrettcountychristmas.com

Everything is totally free: food, concerts, activities for the kids, and free cd’s from the artists themselves. All to remind people that the gift we got at Christmas, Jesus Christ, is free for all those who will accept Him:)

if this happens to anyone else. Things can be perfectly fine, nothing that’s necessarily ‘bad’ or meant to get you down in any way, and yet you start to feel yourself getting pessimistic and angry. You just want the world to go away and leave you alone. And it’s a feeling that encompasses you and won’t go away until you give in to it, and then, after you do, you are fine again…

Does this happen to anyone? What do you do to combat it?

but I’ve somehow managed to keep a positive attitude…even when I feel more like grumping!

I think that the biggest influence has been reading Ephesians (which is a book in the Bible…) I’ve been focusing on my own response to things, and my own attitude, and not letting irrational feelings and my usual self-centeredness cloud the reality of the situation. When things need done, instead of my normal complaining, I just get in there and do it. Gets done a lot quicker that way and then I have more time to do what I really want to do!

I don’t want to lose this! I really want to keep this attitude, and this awesome feeling of deep-down joy and peace:)

still smiling:)

the most amazingly beautiful, happy feeling in my heart today:)

Normally I would be stressing out over getting everything ready for Thanksgiving tomorrow. But today, I feel calm. I’m not even stressing about fixing the turkey (and this time it will be 100% on my own…last time I had my mom to help show me what to do, and it’s not like I cook a turkey all that often!)

God is good, and tomorrow is a day to celebrate that with my family, eating yummy food, sharing and making memories, and laughing and smiling together. What a happy thought!

A few things have happened recently that have the potential to really get me down, but somehow, I’m not worried about them…

yesterday happened. My husband plays bagpipes, so he gets to play at a lot of events throughout the year, including parades. Yesterday there was a parade. I wasn’t so excited about going in the first place, because I’ve been to the same parade with him a few times over the last few years and it’s usually extremely boring. Well, I decided to put on a happy face and go anyways since I didn’t want him to have to drive so far by himself, and also the timing of the whole thing makes it so it takes up the whole day.

To make a long story short(er), things were ok until after the parade and we had a mix up in communication as to where we would meet when he was finished. I was cold, tired, and starving (how’s that for an exaggeration! but I was pretty hungry) and he was nowhere to be found. I tried to not be too upset when he finally showed up, but he grumped at me, so I grumped back. Ugh. We got over it, but I wish I would’ve done things differently.

This can be challenging when one has a head cold and feels miserable…but I’m trying!