Summer was here and now its gone, kids are preparing to go back to school and parents are looking forward to adjusting back into the Fall schedule.

Although I haven’t posted a blog in a while it wasn’t because I haven’t had much to think about. The truth is this summer has been filled with thought and full of emotion. Hard to explain really but calling my life a “Roller Coaster” would be putting it mild. This summer has been wrought with excitement, anticipation, adventure, disappointment, frustration, new beginnings and tough endings. Life has NOT been dull.

And although I’m unable or, in some cases, unwilling to share with you the details of the things I’ve been thinking about I gotta say that, as with most things that are “challenging”, I’ve learned something. Something that at first glance seems to be so obvious, yet for whatever reason, I missed it.

I wrote a blog a few months ago titled: Life IS Good

http://www.buycommonsense.com/?p=157

I was writing about the fact that sometimes in life you go through things and struggle with things that you don’t fully understand until much later and that even in the midst of troubling times life is STILL good.  But realizing that, understanding that and accepting that is only part of it. The other part has to do with your concept of things in general. Kinda the  “Is the glass half full or half empty?” kind of question that you need to ask your self. And to be honest, I’ve always been a glass is half empty kinda guy. To me, being a glass is half empty person just made more sense. Think about it, if your the type of person who is always thinking the glass is half full, when its not, your going to be in a constant state of disappointment. So, I’d say the glass is half empty, don’t count on anything else and thereby avoid my perceived inevitable disappointment. Make sense? In my mind it was  safe and people who thought differently I regarded as fools. But, over the course of the last few months I have found some truth in their reasoning.

This summer I read three books, recommended by some friends, and I have done nothing but chew on them ever since I read them. They were written by different authors, their delivery of the subject matter was extremely different and yet the message was the same. They all dealt with your personal thought process. Sure, they spoke of “positive thinking” and having a “positive attitude” but I’ve found it to be more than that really. You gotta BELIEVE it. And in order for me to truly believe something, I HAVE to understand it. Its gotta make sense or I’ll flush it.

So I’m goin’ through life doing what I do and I’m takin’ things as they come and I can’t help but think, damn, some things just keep getting worse. If its not one thing, its another! One problem fixed or remedied only to be followed by another one in need of attention! (R ya kiddin’ me!??) In time it feels like more bad happens than good and if that’s how it is how can life EVER be considered “good”?? If bad things happening is the standard and good things happening is the exception - we’re screwed! But that’s how it feels at times doesn’t it? Like your constantly being bombarded with negative stuff, livin’ in a tunnel and every once in a while you get a breath of fresh air or a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel?

But what if its the other way around? What if more good things happen on a regular basis than bad? What if your surrounded by good things happening to you and around you on a daily basis….but its not noticed or talked about because your focusing too much on the bad? What if you approached everything in your life as if it was gonna work out, exactly how you wanted, in the time and method that you wanted and when and if it didn’t you were surprised? Wouldn’t that be a kick?

I know what your thinkin’, I’m just talkin’ some of that more “be positive” mumbo jumbo - right? No. Not at all. I’m saying, what if when you got into your car you didn’t think you were gonna make it to your destination? That you were going to be in an accident. Would you still get in? Would you even consider it? No, of course not. But you do, every day. Even though the possibility of being involved in an accident IS a reality. Every day you get in and drive with the belief that you’ll make it, that you’ll get to where your going. Hundreds of thousands of people get in and drive and get to where they are going every day without any problems. That IS the standard. That’s why the practice is repeated. Accidents ARE the exception. If for any reason getting into an accident became the standard happening of driving a vehicle the majority of people would stop driving.

Getting to your destination when driving a vehicle is just one example of what goes right. People have become so successful in getting to where they are going they don’t even question it anymore. And more things go right in our life then what goes wrong, starting with our ability to wake up in the morning. So, why would we think the worst of a situation or circumstance? Aren’t the odds that it will work out or be o.k. tipped slightly more in our favor? I’m not a gambling man but if I was I’d say your odds of having something turn out good is much higher then if they’ll turn out bad.

So being “positive” or having a “positive attitude” isn’t just something you have to do or say, its something you have to believe and you CAN believe it! You have consistency in observing all of the good things happening around you to support your belief. Its not just wishful thinking or false hope. Its a belief based in the reality of who you are, where your at and the fact that you still can get to your desired destination!

Your life is surrounded by good events and happenings. It IS the standard, pay attention and you’ll recognize that. Most importantly, approach every aspect of your life with that attitude. There is a popular saying it goes like this: “Stuff” Happens. Its true, it does but you know what happens more often? Good things, that’s what. So EXPECT good things to happen. Not only does it have better odds but it just makes more sense!

That’s what I think.