Mr Misery Guts

Last night I was out the front of my house cleaning my motorbike when Mr Misery Guts (a pet name I've given him) from a few doors down, happened along. Stupidly, I asked how his day had been. If only I didn't have the 'friendly' gene. What was I thinking? Anyway, goodbye twenty minutes, hello Energy Vampire. Apparently, he had the day from hell. He seems to have a lot of them. When I suggested that "tomorrow will be better", he guaranteed me it wouldn't be. I didn't ask why not.

As he and his little dark misery cloud (the one hanging over his head) trudged home, it dawned on me how much our thinking dictates our reality. Yes, we've all got challenges (some more than others), and yes, we all have better and worse days, but BOY do some people make life hard.

"I'd rather expect disaster, then when it happens I have less chance of being hurt", a lady told me recently.
"And how's life workin' out for you?" I asked.
"Not so good."
"No shit Sherlock."

You know what I love about today? It's the first, last and only December 4, 2007 I'll ever have.
The only one you'll ever have too. Yep, today is unique. A gift. If you didn't know that, now you do. It might not feel unique to you, but that's not the day, that's you. Sure, there may be similar days, but you and I will never have this day again.

Too often our brain is pre-set to 'auto-pilot' and we simply go through the motions. We do (think, choose, react, behave, communicate) today exactly as we did yesterday, even though yesterday sucked. I know that even if I'm in the same situation as yesterday, today will be a more enjoyable, productive and fun day because I will be different in that situation. By choice.

I also know that the quality of my day is not dependent on what happens to me, or around me. And I know that what I do today, will be history tomorrow. So today is significant for me. I've decided to appreciate it and make the most of it. When others find reasons to complain, I will find reasons to celebrate.

Today is an opportunity for me to do things I've never done, big and small. Because that's what I choose. Not because today's the 'right time', not because it's 'easy or convenient' and not because it's what's expected of me. No, today I will do something significant because I want to. It might only be significant for me, but that's okay.

It's a chance for me to stop waiting, procrastinating and talking, and to start doing. My day will be amazing, not because of what happens or doesn't happen, but because of my attitude; the way I choose to experience today. I've learned that an incredible day is not about fate, destiny, chance or luck, but about the mindset I take into every situation, every conversation, every experience.

Today I will see opportunities where others see nothing.
I will see lessons where others see problems.
I will find reasons to be happy.
I will have a great day by choice.

And I will annoy the crap out of the woe-is-me brigade.