Blue tights and hot dog suits

Ok, so admittedly when I woke up this morning I was feeling pretty low on the optimism scale. On a scale of 1-10 I was feeling about a 4. The change to daylight savings has in typical fashion kicked my butt. I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning on a normal day, but getting up an hour earlier than usual is almost impossible. Trying to pry myself out of bed these past two mornings has been like trying to separate a child from a beloved blankie. And I'm just as bitter about it. I'm also pretty bitter about the fact it hasn't been sunny here in Rome in what seems like a donkey's age and I think donkey's live fairly long lives or why would that saying even exist?

My back, which has been hurting for about two weeks from a pulled muscle or possibly there's a knife sticking in my back that I haven't noticed, starting jabbing at me immediately upon standing up. Folding in half and crawling into the big green plastic garbage bin we use for grain to feed the horses didn't help either.

But despite my annoyances and being rankled (rankled is mine and my husband's absolute favorite word!) at the world, I know once I get moving I'll realize I have so much to be grateful for. For example, this past Saturday I drove down to Cartersville to meet my friend Deb for lunch at Moe's. Welcome to Moe's! Just as I was pulling into the main part of town my attention is caught by a man in bright blue tights wearing a hot dog costume jumping up and down and waving at traffic as we swoosh by. Right then and there I thought to myself I am grateful my job does not involve dressing up as food.

Now don't get me wrong! I give this guy major props for getting out there and working, making some money, no matter what he has to do for a few bucks. I admire those who will do whatever it takes and not depend on the rest of us to be their keeper.

I think the most effective way to start living optimistically is to start living gratefully. I feel like my optimism really got a huge boost when I started being thankful every day for the wonderful things in my life...like my job which does not involve dressing up as an Oscar Meyer weiner. Don't make your gratitude just a passing thought. Make it something concrete done in a purposeful way. For example, I have a gratitude app on my iPhone. Yes, I am ADDICTED to my iPhone. Every night before going to bed I rate my day using a 5 star system, add a photo of something I'm grateful for, and write out a list of 5 to 6 things I'm grateful for in my life. Sometimes they are big things and sometimes they are not. My list last night read that I am grateful for good friends, motivation, work I love, weekends and Scott. You might wish to include what you are grateful for in your daily prayers or give thanks by writing a list in a beautiful journal.

Being grateful in this way opens your mind to what is good in your life, leads to positive thoughts and opens you up to the frequency of more good things coming your way. It helps you to see past the negative and focus on the positive things going on in your life. Like the fact that I actually woke up this morning and was able to get out of bed...now there's something to be grateful for!