Isn't it always the littlest things that make the biggest differences in our lives? It's the warm greeting your child gets in the morning when they are dropped off at day care that makes them grin from ear to ear and go running from mommy to their teacher without a hesitation, and that little thing makes mommy's day start off easier because there's no tears or separation anxiety, and you can head to work or back home relaxed. It's that warm cup of steaming coffee when you are still feeling groggy from a not quite long enough night's rest that wakes you up and gets you going and makes your tummy feel comforted. I've said it before in this blog, and I'll say it again, but those little things like taking the time to hug a friend and let them cry on your shoulder can change a person's day. Sending a quick e-mail or making a short phone call to let a colleague or co-worker know they are appreciated for all they do at work brightens both your day and theirs. I can't preach positive thinking and finding the silver lining in every dark cloud enough. It's made my life so much easier.
Living on a tiny island in the middle of the ocean can be isolating, and often gives us too much time to think, to ponder over all the little inadequacies of the world, the people in it, and every detail of our lives and jobs. It's one of the disadvantages of living here, mainly that we tend to focus too much on what is not working right in our lives and on the island instead of what is working well and what the advantages of being here are. We live next to the most breathtaking part of the world's oceans that I have ever seen. We have warm, tropical weather year round to enjoy inside and out. Most of us live tax free here, and those who don't still live rent and mortgage free, car costs free, and generally free from the multiple bills and budget constraits those living in the "real world" experience daily, montly, and year after year. We have unique island style celebrations and the chance to travel with our airline tickets paid for to almost anywhere in the world for at least 4 weeks a year. We have more than so many of our friends and family members in the states right now. Life could be so much worse, and by focusing on those little negatives about your life on the atoll and letting them build and build inside you until you are hot with anger and frustration only makes everything that much harder. My goal today and every day, really, especially through this blog, is to seek out and find the positive in every experience and if I can't find one, then I'll make one! Today was a hectic, stressful day, but it ended by having a glass a wine with a dear friend of mine and watching one of my favorite movies that just happened to be on when I arrived home, and so I made sure I ended on a positive note by focusing some time on nurturing a friendship and escaping into the movies for a bit, so I could sleep peacefully and wake up refreshed, renewed, and ready to start again.
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