At the beginnin’ of last month, I told you about me needin’ to take my own advice and make this my year of livin’ the good life. Since my book, Finding Your Inner Moose, has twelve chapters, I decided that for the first blog of every month this year, I’m gonna focus on a chapter, and chose a little change or two I can incorporate into my life that month, hoping it becomes a habit.
Like I told you last week, I had varying degrees of success with my intention of bein’ kind to myself. But just settin’ that intention made me a lot more aware of when I wasn’t doin’ it, which in the end made me do it more. Baby steps, baby steps….
Chapter Two is about what I believe is the most important thing in life: Havin’ a positive attitude. I think — and many studies back me up, here — that havin’ a positive attitude helps you live longer. Plus, it makes life a heck of a lot easier, and frankly, much more fun. And I know, I know, bein’ nice is exhausting. But so’s bein’ a grump!
I’m the only one who can make me happy, I get that. It’s my responsibility, not Charlie’s, not the Women Who Run With the Moose, or Patsy, down to Hair Affair. But sometimes I lose sight of this, and start expectin’ others to do the heavy lifting. Worse, I can fool myself into thinkin’ I’m responsible for someone else’s happiness. Wrong!
One of the biggest ways I sabotage myself in the happiness department is by takin’ things too personal. I know I’m doin’ this when I start makin’ up stories about why someone’s doin’ what they’re doin,’ or not doin’ what I think they should be doin’. I’m not spreadin’ lies or being malicious or nothin’. No, all of these stories take place in my head.
“I haven’t heard from Celeste all week! I don’t know, I think it’s ‘cause the last time I saw her, I didn’t say anything about her new hair color and now she’s mad at me.” Or, “So and so always cancels! I swear to God, a mosquito could bite her on the toe and she’d cancel our walk. It’s ‘cause she just doesn’t like walkin’ with me, so she’s lookin’ for any lame excuse to cancel.” And I turn into Honey-boo-hoo-hoo. Woe is me!
Men, God love ‘em, don’t go in for this kind of crap. It just never occurs to them that something out of their control could be their fault. When I start goin’ on about some “incident,” which I am want to do, Charlie’s pretty good at callin’ me on it.
“Come on, Ida, Celeste’s probably just sick or busy or somethin’. Or maybe she just plumb forgot. Give it a rest.”
And while my natural inclination is to not give it a rest, that’s my signal to stop and take account. You know, “Is this really happening, or am I just making it up? Do I have all the facts? Am I playin’ with a full deck?” Most times, I’m not.
So that’s my intention for this month: Don’t take things too personal. And if I start getting all balled up about someone or something, I’ll just stop and take a hard look at the story I’m spinning. “Just the facts, Ma’am,” that’s my new motto. And let go of everything else. Geesh, I feel lighter just thinkin’ about it!
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
IDA’S PODCAST: Just the Facts, Ma’am!
Watch “The Moose in Me, The Moose in You” video! Click here to watch the video on YouTube.
It’s not too late to start an “Unloose Your Inner Moose” Book Group
Twelve Chapters — twelve months — lots of fun and easy tips for “Livin’ the Good Life”. Just try one thing from one chapter a month, and by the end of the year, you’ll be surprised at how your good life has gotten even better. Do it yourself, with a buddy or with a group.
Invite Susan/Ida to do a reading or perform for your group or organization. You’ll have a wicked good time: guaranteed. In the words of one concerned audience member, “You really should have “Depends” by the door for some of us!”
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ida@idaswebsite.com