Attitude

I woke up today feeling normal- just like any other day. And then after a couple of hours, my heart just felt HAPPY. Right now, I’m still feeling this happy feeling in my heart- that I’m smirking while typing.

I was humming tunes while walking to the office.

Stomping my feet while sitting in the bus listening to Kerri’s song.

I am happy.

I am loved.

And I am definitely blessed beyond what I deserve. I know that I’m feeling this happiness because my heart is screaming with gratitude.

But don’t get me wrong- I don’t have the perfect life. I’m not everything-is-fine-everyday person. I have problems and struggles like any other person.

Facts:

-         This morning I woke up alone, in a far away place with no family/loved ones near. And it has been this way for almost 3 months now.

-         The bus arrived 30 minutes late this morning. And I had to stand in the bus stop with a big heavy laptop bag in my back. And I was late!

-         My muscles (entire body muscles that is) are aching as well because I did yoga last night and carrying that bag made it more difficult.

-         In a normal day here, I only get to talk thru chat. Voice talk is about an hour max. Imagine that with me?! Not talking my heart out.

-         I eat my breakfast in my desk. Lunch with my housemate/officemates. And then a silent dinner again by myself.

-         I have a wedding in 80 days and there are a lot of things that needs polishing. But I can’t polish them because I have to wait until I’m back in Manila.

-         Weekends are excruciatingly lonely L

Believe me. I can fill out a whole a lot more space of sulkiness and negativity to complain about every single thing that is happening to me.

But I don’t.

There’s always two sides of the bread. And I choose to wake up on that positive side- every single day. There are days that it’s not easy. There are days that you just want to curl up in bed or cry your heart out or literally buy a one-way ticket back home. This is where I call on God. I would never have survived without Him, without prayers. He wants me to be silent and trust Him. And that’s what I do.

This brings me to the sad part of this story. When you’re away, social networks will be your ally, you get to check out what’s happening to the world you left behind and be updated. And I get hurt with negativities. Person A is cursing. Person B is picking a fight with a person. Person C is not happy everyday because his manager sucks. Person D is just plainly negative.

Don’t get me wrong- I respect feelings. I respect opinions and I respect that these are just outlets that you can vent out your emotions.

But come to think of it. Those people who are with their loved ones (daily), those who can chit-chat with their parents over dinner, those who can stroll to the mall with their friends, have someone fetch them after work—are the ones who have more complains than gratitude.

Think twice or thrice before belting out.

Think of the things you have and not of what’s in the moment.

There are people across the world that doesn’t have what you have- and constantly wish they had that.

Try waking up on the different side of the bread today.

Try to close your eyes and face the morning sun.

Say a little prayer.

Smile.

I’m sure you’re day will be way BETTER!

Sharing one of the best prose ever written: (A personal favorite)

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.” - CHARLES R. SWINDOLL