I’ve been working on keeping my mind on things that make me happy.

It’s way too easy to notice the negative and give it too much head space.

I told you guys in a previous post that happiness is not just a goal, it’s a continuum; it’s harder to explain than you might think. I wonder if we confuse happiness with being giddy, like it’s a feeling of euphoria or something. I’m learning happiness is purposeful living, intentional actions, it’s more of a sense of “I’m okay,” like well-being, than a desire to bust out laughing, although that is a really good thing to do regularly.

I also told you that just doing one small thing a day, that you know makes you feel good, can lead to a total mood change and take you down the pathway to true happiness.

I’ve been much more aware of the things I do since I shared with you guys; I’ve made a few discoveries.

For example, it’s amazing how irritable bad traffic can make me. Ugh! Since I realized how grumpy I get, I decided I needed to work on it. It has been a challenge to say the least, I have little to NO patience with rude drivers, I mean, hello? Ever think there might be somebody besides you on the road that needs to get somewhere, buddy?? Just today I was driving behind a person going about 20mph in the fast lane, and I was ready to blow a gasket, but I stopped mid-rant and began to tell myself a different story. What if they were recently in a car accident and feel nervous being back on the road? Or what if they need to turn soon and don’t want to wait until the last minute to change lanes? Maybe they’re really nice and WWJD?? That last one is convicting, let me tell you.

You know what, I felt myself calm down pretty quickly once I refocused my mind and who knows? Maybe I was right, maybe there really is a struggle? Even if there isn’t, maybe they really are just selfishly taking up the fast lane, what does it matter if I tell myself a different story? A story that will make me less agitated and keep me on track and keep my mind a happier place.

I’m definitely a work in progress, but I am not giving up. I am going to slowly learn to drive in traffic and keep my peace.

My inner peace matters more than why someone is doing something I don’t understand.

Let ‘em drive slow, I’ll eventually pass and get where I need to go. I can live with that.

For my “happier each day goal,” I’ve been making sure I find people, events and things that are life giving. Today it was Hobby Lobby, pretty sure the Good Lord made that place on the eighth day. All the seasonal decor was on full display, and I had to fight my urge to buy a pumpkin.

And then Target was giving away samples of iced coffee and I was sure I’d died and gone to heaven.

It’s the simple stuff that makes me smile and fills my heart with gratitude.

So thankful for another day and for sunshine and for friends that visit and for graduations and family and big smiles and road trips with my guy and the ocean and so many other things!

What are you thankful for today?

Have you been doing things that make you happy?

Let’s be intentional about it.

The beach; one of my very favorite places.