“Joyful people live their lives finding ways to celebrate what is and not what could have been.”
Jane Jayroe, Former Beauty Queen, Broadcaster, Director of Tourism
There are happy, joyful people in the world, and there are grumps. Think of the word “grump” and whose picture is beside that word in YOUR dictionary. We all know one. That person who is always negative. That person who always sees the worst in people instead of the best. The person who is pessimistic before things even get started. We may have a friend like that or a co-worker or even a family member. During divorce, we may even become one!
Grumps sometimes say they are just being realistic … they don’t want to be a Pollyanna. Rather a Pollyanna than a Scrooge before his transformation. I enjoy being around people who have problems just like the rest of us, but who manage to stay upbeat and confident and see life as overflowing and full instead of depressing and empty.
Just think about all the things we can celebrate this minute. My list is endless. If you really look, yours is too. Everyone of us has the potential to be joyful about the good things that are in our life right this minute. All the things that aren’t right will still be there for us to face and deal with, but wasting time fretting over things that could have been or should have been will bring nothing but misery. Today, I’m going to focus on the wonderful things that are. We can all have a fullness of joy if we recognize the pleasures around us everywhere. Let’s start celebrating those good things now.
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fulness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures evermore.”
Psalm 16:1
