It’s been a loooong, dark, polar vortexular winter and it’s not even close to over. This week I feel like I’m plowing through each day just to inch closer to spring. One of my kiddos lately has been oozing gloom and doom, to the point that I fear it’s becoming her trademark. It’s a tough winter for sure but I knew I needed to stop wishing the days away and start finding more joy in the everyday.
I’ve been countering my daughter’s negativity with the upsides to hopefully get her to shift her focus. Each night I ask the kids to tell me 10 things that they’re happy about and grateful for. There was eye rolling at first and the list took awhile to come together. But slowly, the mood is lightening. They’re learning and hopefully shaking the habit of always going to the dark side.
To celebrate Friday of a loooong week, I give you 10 things I am happy about:
- A full hour more daylight than we had on the winter solstice
- Olympics!
- Today’s hill repeat workout is finito and I’m still alive
- Our copious amount of snow sparkles like crazy in the slowly strengthening sunshine
- My Vitamin D levels are hanging tough this season and I’ve got strong beautiful nails to show for it!
- I’ve been chipping away at self-care items I usually let go undone ie: eye appt., haircut, dentist appt., monthly massage.
- The family drama that’s been weighing heavily on me for the past several months has been resolved. This is a huge one.
- I treated myself to a new BRIGHT winter coat: Thermoball from The North Face (on sale!).
- Spring break officially starts in 42 days and we are setting sail for Mexico.
- Finally this song makes me dance around my kitchen like a loon:
What do you think: Are some people hard-wired to be negative or positive? Can positivity be learned?
I think it is a choice but this week I’ve been pretty doom and gloom, too. The foot plus of snow on the ground combined with the never ending single digit temps have done me in!!!
I like the idea of the list of 10 (even 5!!) positives – you have some great ones!!! 42 days isn’t that long till your trip!!!
And, hooray for resolving the family drama – I live with that same kind of drama.
I do the “what did you learn today” with my oldest at night. Sometimes it’s school sometimes it’s just a life lesson. Nails look awesome!
Love the nails (I can’t have good nails since I wash my hands a million times a day for work…) and love the jacket!
I’m trying SO hard to be positive. It’s been tough. I keep thinking ahead to my Florida half in March.
I think this can come from the way you were brought up & the interactions & talk in the home.. it can be changed but sometimes things set in hard.. 🙂
I sure hope positivity can be learned because I’ve really been working hard at it. Are you taking extra vit D because I am really wanting my nails to grow but so far nothing. Glad that the family drama is over. That’s always a good reason to bd happy.
I love that coat!! And so glad the drama has been resolved. That can be so stressful.
I think I’m a fairly positive person. In part I think it’s learned. I really do look for the best spin on a situation. That’s a process that has become more automatic as I get older. My mom and my husband are both people who tend to be pretty negative. I’ve said more than once that if there’s a way to be unhappy they’ll find it. It can be pretty exhausting, so I applaud your efforts to counter that at home (and your success!).
That coat – LOVE!
This has been hard for me. I love winter – really really love it – but between my nagging shoulder and EVERYONE COMPLAINING about winter on social media, it’s been tough to stay happy about it all. But the olympics! It makes everything better.
I have been working hard on the “happiness is a choice” lesson with my younger daughter. I like you list of 10 things each day – going to give that one a shot 🙂
I think optimism is a bit hard wired and a bit nurture. I think I am wired to be positive but have to work at it. My glass is 1/2 1/2 full 😉
I love that song, too!
Mexico!
Like most personality traits, part nature, part nurture. But I think as parents, we owe it to our kids to model optimism as best we can. They really do soak up the things we show them. And personality gets harder to change as we get older…
I try the positivity route occasionally but my kids are so crazy it doesn’t usually last long. I still keep trying – definitely a trait that can be adopted with practice.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of the TNF – heard good things so far.
Swear to god, between my pink coat and my sparkly pink nails, I could be you in that picture.
I grew up around a mother who was very negative and I definitely held that tension for many years. I have unlearned it for the most part by doing things like you are trying now, gratitude!! Focusing on what is going right. So Yup I fully believe it can be created!
Your nails look amazing!
Pharrel William’s song is my favourite at the moment. I’ve even made a ring tone of it for my phone.
I definitely think people are born into a pre-disposition depending on how they grow up if they are positive or negative. But, it can be changed! It takes work to look at the big picture of life but if you practice it every day it works. My husband grew up in a family of complainers, but honestly after us talking about being grateful for so long he’s turned around and now he talks me out of my funks!
I am so impressed with your nails! I’ve been wearing fake ones for so long I’m sure my real ones will never gt that strong.
February, I’m convinced is the worst month! UGH! Hang in there. I LOVE that song..Happy.. makes me dance like a toddler. 🙂
I’ve caught myself lately wishing away the days – not a good habit…have been working hard to focus on the positive. I love the color of your new jacket…and I cannot help but dance to that song every time I hear it 😉
Mexico that’s fun!! I am definitely counting down to spring break, though I won’t be going anywhere haha.
Love your nails! I can’t paint my fingernails because of my job but I used to all the time.
I love your list! That is a great habit to have! I have been so meh about work that it’s been bringing me down during the day, but at night, I completely forget and feel great! I need to remember that, during the day.
Gosh. I would like to think that positivity can be learned, but I haven’t seen much of it!
Happy to hear your family drama has been resolved!
i like the idea of the list with the kids! i think people are definitely naturally either a positive, or more negative person,but I do think you can work on it. Please tell me you’ve seen the SNL debby downer skits (if not, google it and watch the one with lindsay lohan).