Time has no divisions to mark its passage, there is never a thunder-storm or blare of trumpets to announce the beginning of a new month or year. Even when a new century begins it is only we mortals who ring bells and fire off pistols. - Thomas Mann

As another year passes I reflect upon the good and the bad and in the end I’m thankful that friends and family made it through pretty much unscathed.

I am thankful that my eyes are opened to the blessings in life instead of focusing on the negativity.

A good friend Sanjay and I had a long talk yesterday about weight loss and spirituality as we are prone to do. I was telling him how nice it was that every day when I get up and write one of these gratitude posts that it just sets the mood for the rest of the day.

I would be lying if I told you this were untrue. I would also be lying if I would tell you that even just a few weeks ago I would believe this could be true, but it is.

What I have learned in the past couple of weeks is that people can affect our lives, but it truly is up to us how much we allow them to affect our lives. Ultimately it is we who are responsible for our own happiness, and yes, sadness.

I have also learned that I cannot concern myself with every thought that goes through my head, attempting to stop even one negative one. However, I can recognize the direction those thoughts are heading by my feelings. These are both very powerful bits of knowledge.

To put it into a quick example, there have been days in my past where I just wrapped up the most wonderful time with either family or friends. I’m talking hours of sheer joy, and on the way home almost get side swiped by some uncaring fool on the road.

This encounter would then lead to the inevitable bickering, cursing and yes my favorite one fingered salute (I am patriotic that way). But it would also lead to me allowing a dark cloud to cover what was a very blessed day I had been having so far. I had given a random individual the power to enter my reality and alter it to fit his. Well not really, this is where the powerful stuff comes in. I am responsible for my own feelings and emotions and so are you.

Now that I recognize this I handle situations much better. If I am driving down the road and some uncaring individual almost side swipes me I recognize the feelings that come with this encounter. I still get anxious, angry, frustrated, and so much more, but now I maintain that power over my own life and the direction it heads, I maintain power over the reality I am creating for myself and it stops there.

I recognize the fact that this is an uncaring individual and that since I am responsible for my own reality, I am not responsible for his. Now there is no need to be frustrated, I’m not going to spend the next five minutes attempting to prove why I think they are wrong and should feel bad. Since our encounter ends there and I make sure not to allow this individual to put me into a similar situation I am no longer anxious or angry.

Instead I look for things that will make me happy. I turn up the music and start singing my butt off, or I repeat my mantra of “I attract love, I attract success, I attract respect, I attract money.” Sometimes I’ll call a friend. Whatever it takes to get my mind off the negative thoughts that want to start pouring from my body and get back to creating positive thoughts that will manifest themselves into my reality.

So yeah I’m thankful that I now have the tools to create my own happiness.

Have A Safe, Blessed, Happy New Years!

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