I have several friends who don’t watch the news anymore. They don’t like to watch it or read it. This made me curious.

They say they don’t like all the negativity and it’s depressing. I agree with them.  But I am curious about what’s going on in the news. I like to be informed and connected and knowing a little bit about a lot.  But I get why they don’t watch it.  Most of what we see and hear is about what’s wrong in the world when there is so much that is right and unreported.  I prefer the positive news stories and I think most others do too, but usually what we hear and see is the s*&%.

Isn’t that dumb? Let’s focus on what’s right and be happy for one another. I like this model better.

I have to say that I do love to watch the reality tv shows, just so I can feel better about my own “boring” life and to feel like I am doing something right, even though it’s not as “glamorous” as portrayed on tv.  At least I’m not experiencing what THEY are experiencing.  But usually I feel sorry for the people with the crazy lives more so than I feel better about myself.  Maybe that’s what compassion looks like. And my life is crazy behind the scenes too. I just choose to share the shinier, feel good moments.

This is one of the reasons why I choose to write every night, even though it might be boring. I want to share stories of what is working and to share successes, positivity and happiness. I want us all to be successful and I want us all to feel joy and love despite our struggles and pain that are always present.  I want us to learn to let go as quickly as possible so that we can shine our light and love.

I had a friend tell me that she thought my blog was sometimes hard to read because it sounded like my life was perfect and she was envious of me.  I appreciated her honesty and realness. I told her that she really knew the truth, and that my life isn’t perfect and that I struggle every day. I just choose to focus on the positive outcomes despite the craziness and chaos that is my life and I keep choosing to make the time for experiences that I think will create happiness for others, my family and myself and that it takes constant work and focus and refocus. I don’t always get it right.  And I don’t do perfect, that’s for sure. When I mess up or don’t do my personal best, I choose to share what I learned vs. the details of the struggle, because I think we all have our own struggles and who needs to read negative news?  Not most of my friends, obviously.

So that’s what this blog is about. The daily journey to happiness and love and compassion and learning and laughing along the way.

I choose to share the good because that is what positive thinking and positive psychology is all about. When we choose to focus on the good and to rise up as individuals and as families and communities, we can be the change we want to see in the world, minute by minute. When we each choose to do our personal best and to be loving and kind and to do what’s right, we make a difference in this world. This is what I can contribute. This is my daily 15 – 30 minutes of practicing hope and love, shared daily for myself, for you, my family, friends, and new friends. We’re all one.  We all have good news to share, despite the struggles that will always be there. Let’s rise together.

Oh, and if you were wondering where this blog post came from tonight, it came from Chipotle. I had picked up food to go since it was a crazy, busy day and the bag had a story and a quote written on it that caught my eye. The story was called, “A Two Minute Case for Optimism” by Steven Pinker and the quote on the other side of the bag said, “We will never have a perfect world, but it’s not romantic or naive to work toward a better one.” by the same author.  I could relate and connected to this story and was thankful that I didn’t have to cook tonight, for the good food, and for the positive, affirming story.

If you’d like to read it or know more about Chipotle’s marketing, here are a couple links (and I’m not paid to support Chipotle, by the way!)

Chipotle’s Packaging Story

A Two Minute Case for Optimism, by Stephen Pinker