Focus on the blessings!

As we are now well on our start to in the new year, I really have gotten to the point in life where I don’t really make new year’s resolutions as such.  The reason for that is that it is almost a certainty that you are making promises to yourself that you won’t keep and setting yourself up for disappointment. 

How about this for size. How about a resolution to just be a happy person?  If there is anything I have learned in nearly 60 years on this planet, it is that no matter what you do, there are going to be some people, for whatever reason, who don’t like you.  There will be some people who will bust your balls for standing up for what you believe. There will be some people who disappoint you.  There will be some people who actually, in one way or another, try to harm you.  There will be people who judge your so-called inadequacies. 

And what about getting older.  Ever since I turned forty-something, I have felt my age.  Aches and pains and minor health issues.  How about every time you turn around, losing someone you love to the inevitability of death? 

Wow…if all of this is the focus of your day, you are not going to be very happy. 

I wanted to briefly share one inspiration that I had this morning to write this.  And I am not mentioning this to embarrass him, but maybe just to say thank you to him for our friendship and make him aware of how he inspires me in so many ways.  My friend, and world-class musician Dom Moio, has a YouTube series called Mr. Sauce. If you haven’t checked it out, you seriously need to.  Dom shares various experiences of making and enjoying Italian food and hanging with his friends and family.  The entire thing is a small glimpse into the life of what I classify as a “happy camper”. I do know Dom well enough to know that not every minute of his life has been a bowl full of cherries.  An example might be the day a tree wiped out his living room and made his home uninhabitable.  And yet, every time I see Dom, he makes MY day better! 

So, I have been thinking about this a bit.  As I am approaching 60, and the next chapter in my life, I am going to make an effort to focus on the blessings, and let the negative stuff be more of the water off a duck’s back.  I am becoming aware that life is short, so I am going to try to spend more time with the ones I love, doing the things I enjoy. 

Many blessings to you all!

Leave a comment