“My husband is the happiest person I have ever met,” a woman said in a story on National Public Radio. “Our friends feel the same way. I see him make micro-decisions every day, to feel positive about what happens in his life.”
Since birth, I have been an ebullient, optimist person. I feel happy, despite being constantly criticized by my alcoholic father while growing up, and abused by my first husband.
Life is made up of choice and chance. Yes, bad things happen to good people. But we choose our reaction and behavior. Take today, for example.
Woke up with a bad sore throat and fever, choking on a post-nasal drip. Three days ago, I completed a week of antibiotics. It’s a national three-day holiday. If I stalled, by next week I could have pneumonia. I want to hike next week! And my daughter’s wedding is Sept. 15.
Grabbing my new “Outside” magazine, I drove to the walk-in clinic. Waited two hours to see a doctor, including 90 minutes in the exam room. But I felt happy, reading about athletes and a thrilling story:
“As the U.S. battles over the fate of public lands, the Chilean government and Kristine Tompkins are doing something extraordinary down in Patagonia- setting aside millions of acres for stunning new National Parks."
Other people would feel mad about getting sick again and waiting two hours to see a doctor. I feel happy that:
I choose to see a doctor right away, instead of my usual “wait and see” approach.
The doctor listened to me.
Started a new antibiotic that has worked well on my sinus infections.
I will be healthy during my daughter’s wedding, instead of sick and coughing.
How to be happy? Make micro-decisions to feel positive about what happens in your life.