Taking the "Be Happy" Challenge

Taking the "Be Happy" Challenge--

A new venture on Facebook is to be happy for 100 days.  What a lovely idea.  Mark today as day 1 on your calendar and force yourself to act as if you are happy for 100 days in a row.  Do I sound a little skeptical?

I thought I would give it a try today.  I decided that no matter what came my way, I would handle it with a happy spirit.  I would smile and even laugh.  My eyes would twinkle, and my walk would be light.  Yes, this day would begin that 100 day happy venture.

It's interesting how once your mind is set to accomplish something, life turns against you.  For instance, the computer runs so slowly that you grumble about networks and the money you spend to have easy access to the internet.  Hum...things aren't looking too good for the start of those 100 days.

Later in the morning you realize that a bill that needed to be paid has been buried under the stack of papers on the desk.  Some uncaring person is threatening to add a late fee.  That's what the person on the other end of the phone call tells you.  There is no way you can explain that you intended to pay that bill, but it got lost.  Has a bit of a phony sound, doesn't it?  So you speak in your sweetest and most respectful voice to that phantom person who could care less.  If you are lucky, they will reverse the late fee charge.  A bit of happy just floated out the room.

I love it when the recorded voice announces that the call may be or will be recorded.  Once I told the person on the other end that I was recording the call, too.  There was a bit of panic, and then I was told that I couldn't do that.  So, I said we didn't have anything to discuss.  It seems to me that we should think about what we allow in our lives.  But I digress.

Back to the beginning of my personal 100 happy days.  Things were going well until I stepped outside. Oh my gosh.  The wind nearly knocked me over.  Once I was safely in my car and driving down the road,  I wrestled with it to stay out of the ditch.  Well, maybe that is a slight exaggeration, but it isn't much of one.  I felt as if I were playing dodge ball with giant trucks.  That is when the 100 days bit the dust.

Before I left the house, I combed my hair.  Once outside, I had to ask why I even bothered.  Every hair on my head flew in opposite directions.  Normally, that would have been no big deal.  But, today I needed to stop in a few stores.  At one of the stores I purchased a bouquet of flowers.  They were nearly stripped down to the stems by the wind.  So much for happy.  Let's talk about survival.

Well, I think the concept is wonderful.  Really, I do.  Being happy for 100 days in a row.  Wow!  I know there are people who will work hard to achieve this worthy goal.  I am not one of them.  My life is a series of ups and downs, ins and outs, happy, sad, challenged, ticked off, delighted.  It moves and circles.  As it moves and circles, moods and feelings move with it.  There is no way I know how I will feel tomorrow.  Or the next day.  Certainly I can be more aware of others and realize that my attitude affects those around me.  But, I think I will take the next 100 days as they come.  Some will bring saddness.  Others joy.  Some will bring challenges.  What I can do is celebrate the fact that I am given another 100 days.  That appeals to me.

I think I will try for 60 seconds of happy.  Then increase it to five minutes.  Follow that with thirty minutes.  Push for the hour.  But, if an unhappy thought makes its way into my mind, I will not feel defeated.  I will simply start the process all over--going in small increments.  I think I can handle that.

Take good care.