I received an email last week and the subject line was ‘Have a day’. I thought that was a tad weird so I read on. She went on to explain that she wanted people to not feel pressured to ‘Have a good day.’ Because with so much going on in today’s world it might not be possible. She wanted people to feel that is was ok to just ‘Have a day.’

And I totally agree with this in concept. Yes, some days are just terrible, frustrating or just plain sad.  And since we are still living under the Covid cloud some days are just plain tough. 

I totally get the feelings of sadness and frustration.

What I don’t agree with is just ‘having a day’. We all have a limited number of days to live. If we learn only ONE thing from this pandemic it is this… each and every day is precious and should never be taken for granted. There might not be a tomorrow. Or tomorrow might be different than you imagined and not one of your own choosing. 

But, we CAN CHOOSE how we begin and end each and every one of those days. I’m not talking about the things happening around us, our to-do lists or any other external things.  I am talking about us. Our thoughts, perceptions and attitudes. How we actually LIVE each day. Are we choosing joy…everyday?

This season will end and when you look back what do you want to remember? What do you want others to remember about you? What do you want to be able to tell your children and grandchildren when they ask ‘What did you do during Covid? How did you feel? Were you sad?'

Because we need to choose joy… everyday.

Joy is not based on our circumstances and what happens around us. It is a thought, mindset and decision.

Thoughts have a way of running away on their own. When you choose joy you are grabbing those thoughts and CHOOSING to live within those parameters. You are looking through the lens of JOY.  Not the lens of your circumstances.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I could definitely wallow in what I don’t have and what I want to be different. I haven’t seen my mom since January. My vacations have all been cancelled. Weddings of family members have been cancelled. My kids can’t fly down because of restrictions. I can’t eat out so I have to cook every night. My husband needs surgery and I can’t even see him in the hospital. 

See….if I sat here long enough I could probably add about 30 other ‘wants but don’t have’s.’ Things that frustrate me. Things that sadden me. Things that totally get under my skin. You could probably make a long list too – right? 

Choose Joy… everyday instead.

How about, rather than making a list of all the unmet expectations (usually this is a mental list), you switch your thoughts to what you have, love and desire. And as you make a new list, choose to rise above and live your days…not just ‘have a day.’

I recently wrote a post ‘Wanting From a Place of Abundance'. The thought process behind wanting what you already have is amazing. I highly recommend that you give it a read.

And remember, you are definitely not in control of everything :). But you can control you.  Your mind and thoughts and the actions that come from those thoughts. I would like to encourage you to LIVE your day…not just have one. Choosing Joy…everyday along the way.