I am happy.
I have not won the lottery.
I am single.
I always have to watch my weight.
My body is aging.
My life may not always seem to be moving in the direction that I “want.”

But I am still happy.
I am that glass 1/2 full person.

Recently I shot a media campaign for J Jill called “More Than Hollywood.” They were highlighting a group of real women in Hollywood that are making a difference in life. I was honored to be one of six women chosen.

It was refreshing to be involved in a project that focused on the strength of women ‘of a certain age’.  There were two components to the shoot: a print portion and an interview. I was asked, “What made me happy in life?” during the interview.

It’s funny when I was younger; I could have thought of a multitude of things that could “make me” happy.  Now, however, I could not think of one.

I am just happy. I am joyful in my being. I really want for nothing. Sure, I’d like my kitchen remodeled, or world peace and a perfect world; however great those would be, they are outside of myself. My joy or my happiness resides within me.

Partially as a reminder to myself and partially for its sound,  I named my dog Joie de Vivre.  Each time I call her name, I am reminded of living with Joie de Vivre, French for the joy of living.

“I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” William Ernest Henley

Why are some people 1/2 glass full and others 1/2 glass empty?
Being a half-full person doesn’t mean I am giddy with positiveness. I am not.
I am not overly optimistic. Actually, I am probably more of a realist.
I do not bubble over with cheerfulness. I can be quite somber and lowkey and serious. One would not describe me as perky.

To see the bright side in life does not exclude one from the sorrows of life. It does not give us immunity to the throes of darkness that we all fall into on occasion.

What it does do is to provide an alternative view. Even though we may find ourselves on a path of despair at times, we also are aware that the path is only temporary and that soon enough, we can step off of it to change directions.

For me, the key element for looking at life 1/2 full is from a quiet knowing that has developed over my years.
I have cultivated a deep and profound trust that I am the creator of my own universe. It is through my choices, my thoughts, and actions that manifest my world.

“Happiness is an internal choice not an external condition”   Josh Rappaport

The timeline for manifestation is not always the timeline that I ‘want,’ but it is my timeline. And part of knowing is trusting that immediate gratification is not always in the cards.  Sometimes we are dealt with things that slow us down, so other things can percolate. When we plant a seed, time and care will allow it to grow.

Sometimes we are thrown headfirst into situations that feel beyond our ability. The universe will never hand us things that we cannot handle, so again, we know that all will be okay through trust.

And sometimes the reverse happens. Sometimes synchronicity seems to be the driving force in life, with doors opening left and right; when this happens, it always brings me a smile.

Regardless of how life unfolds, life does not mean standstill.  Understanding this gives us the power to navigate the roads before us.

So, even in the midst of a situation that may not be viewed as optimal, I trust that I will make it through with lessons learned and blessings counted.

When I assessed my property’s damage after the recent wildfires and then of the subsequent flooding, my heart sank into my stomach. I let out a few words of damnation then organically, my brain went to the positive. It could have been a lot worse. It could have been devasting. I am lucky it was not.
When I am stressed, my go-to is to take action, so I grabbed a shovel and hose and started to clean up. I felt better after clearing away some of the mud, and a clean surface began to reappear.

As a 1/2  glass full person, some would call us optimists. Optimists feel more in control. We understand there are choices that we can make to create our desired outcome. A pessimist thinks they have no choice, so there appears to be no hope.

When an optimist looks into the future, It is hopeful and bright. A pessimist will view it as bleak and dark. To see possibilities will always create an optimistic future, while one that focuses on the problems will continue to see a downtrodden path.

A glass 1/2 full person will look into the past, and instead of seeing only darkness, they will see a glimmer of light within that darkness, coaxing it to grow brighter. This is the Let Go that defines a  glass 1/2 full or a glass  1/2 empty person.

We have a choice of how we move through this life of ours. We are lucky to live in a free country, it does not shelter us from a travesty.  The travesty fails to see that it is the power of our minds that allows us to see the world through a bright and clear lens instead of seeing it through doom and gloom.

The power is within the choices we make.  So, let me ask you this, “How do you view this glass?”

 

“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” Nelson Mandela

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