It’s hard to look on the bright side these days. Not leaving home is hard, no lunches out, no book clubs, and no vacation plans. It is all quite depressing. Still, life goes on, and if you can limit the amount of doom and gloom that you are exposed to, you can go on.
Local newspapers often run columns allowing locals to vent; more often than not viewpoints are real dowers, but there are enough positive comments to keep you reading and keep you smiling.
My favorite comment this week was from a lady who wrote that she loved wearing a mask. She loved not having to wear makeup and she loved not having to stress about wrinkles and aging skin. People, she went on to say, can still tell that you are smiling if you let your eyes sparkle and give a friendly wave of your hand as you skip by.
There are times when people who are always cheerful make you nuts, but not today. We need cheerful, we need nuts, and we need silver linings.
For one thing; optimists tend to live longer, are more apt to have goals, and are more apt to meet them. Optimists are better about taking care of themselves; they have a reason to get up every morning.
Looking on the bright side doesn’t have to be difficult. Consider:
• If you are not social by nature, and not everyone is, you might feel relieved that you are no longer expected to hug, shake hands or engage in meaningless conversation.
• You finally have time to finish the afghan you have been knitting on for years.
• You can read more, organize closets, write your memoirs and have dinner with the whole family.
• You can learn to live one day at a time; enjoy a movie night, learn 71 ways to play solitaire, write a letter, get a dog.
Small things but they are important, and they can help get you through the day. Instead of looking at the downside, be strong, be healthy and share your love.
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