I once knew a lady who hunted disappointments the way a squirrel searches for acorns. As the woman repeated a litany of daily insults and horrors, her black mood seeped into me. When I finally stopped listening to the emotional tirades, I felt happier and healthier. 

 Moods are contagious. Don’t let a miserable person make you miserable. Don’t feel guilty about setting much-needed boundaries. And don’t apologize. This is your life. Do you want to infuse it with strife or wonder?

Duis. Happiness can be elusive because we are human. We don’t live in sealed packages. We have friends and families; we live in communities.  

During the long winter, I studied positive affirmations, and I slowly began to understand that I was like Dorothy Gale, stuck in Oz, unaware that I had the power to return home by clicking the heels of my ruby slippers. Instead of magical shoes, I had another tool: I could change how I began each day. I could choose optimism. I could be thankful for the simplest things: a sunrise, gingerbread cookies, or Advent candles.

I wrote down an affirmation. Then I walked outside and spoke the words out loud. I imagined the vowels rising into the wind. And I let them go. Negative thinking will rewire the brain, and you might end up like the woman who hunted disappointments. Luckily, positive thoughts rewire neural pathways, too.

Thoughts can shape your destiny.

Isn’t it marvelous that we live in a world where we can choose to be joyful every single day. Maybe we’ll catch a buoyant moment while we’re in the butterfly garden. Or we may find peace while exploring your backyard, have a quiet, gathering sticks or watching the sky.

All it takes is your time. One second. One minute. One day. No matter: it’s a gift. During that time, we let worries fall away.

Today, I will counter negativity with gratitude.

I will choose to be happy. Won’t you join me?