The Happy Train

My blog title is dedicated to Casey. My partner in crime in the back corner helped me develop this concept and is always reminding me when I am having a bad day to conduct my own train. It’s a choice. This seems to be a theme in my life at the moment. I have had random conversations with a variety of people regarding attitudes and choices. There was a quote I read once and I think it said something like, “Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.”

I believe in choices. I believe that we allow ourselves to be influenced by things around us. I have a friend who hates her job. I mean HATES her job. I would think that it’s this particular one but given her history, it’s not about the job but about work in general. She allows this to permeate all areas of her life. Usually by Sunday she has worked herself into a fit because Monday is right around the corner. What a miserable way to spend one’s life. She chooses that path and while I use to feel bad for her, I now just feel sad. She has allowed that job to have way more power than it should.

A job is just that. A job. A means by which we create the resources we need to do the things we love. Some people get lucky and love their job and I’m glad for them. But either way, it is only one component of our lives.

Ok.. got off on a rant there but that is the exact thing that I am referring to. Whether it is a job, a bad relationship, poor weather, lack of funds, a broken car or leaky faucet, it is our reaction to these things that determines our happiness. Now I am not Pollyanna but I don’t like to be miserable and when I am, typically I conducted my own train down that path. I made that choice to let something get to me.

I guess what I am trying to say is that we need to take responsibility for ourselves. I hear people making excuses for themselves and others based on people’s reaction to a situation. “She’s having a bad time of it because her husband is out of work. That’s why she’s so mean” Ok… I admit that sucks. But her husband being out of work is no excuse for her meanness. She’s responsible for the meanness. It was her reaction to the situation.

I make excuses all the time. When I’m hungry, I get mean. When I’m sleepy, I get whiny. But I am conducting my own train. Most days I strive for a happy train. Life’s too short to be unhappy and most things that make me unhappy are not worth the effort of being unhappy.

In the words of my buddy Stephen Covey- “Proactive people carry their own weather.” Today’s forecast is sunny with a cool breeze.