Our thoughts form what we believe to be reality.
― Isabel Allende
I recall being extremely unhappy in the past. Interestingly, I did not realize how unhappy I was. Others around me did. I was always complaining. I always managed to find something bad about any situation. To connect with others, I would share painful or negative experiences so that we could wallow in misery together, not to find a solution. I saw life as something for which I just had to grit my teeth and get it over with. When I got into recovery and met people in the program, I saw everyone laughing and joyous. I so wanted to be like them, but I was confused as to how. It is not that they had a “better” life than me. I heard their stories and their shares and they had difficulties in their life as I did. Rather than complain, though, I found they laughed and connected with each other through humor and solution-oriented behavior. They managed to see the good in every situation. As a result, they saw life as an adventure! I slowly learned to change my perspective to be more positive. Now, if it rains outside, I am thankful that I remembered my umbrella rather than cursing the sky. As a result, I am a much happier person and I can see how much there is to appreciate and learn from in my life.
A meditation for January 5, 2013.
The Beauty of the Rain – Dar Williams