At times we live in a violent and troubled world. It seems we all have points where we struggle with the idea of morals, our personal set of beliefs that we follow on a day to day basis. Those lines we are willing to live our lives between and still be able to sleep at night. If we falter, Society has a larger set, more black & white type of rules we all must follow in order to be continually thought of as an acceptable member. But why is this so hard for us? Why can’t we all just live happy lives? Why do we feel we need to lie, cheat and hurt others in order to survive?
Some people say it is because we are at our basic instincts no more than animals. Others say that it is because some people are just born evil. Of course, some of it is caused by our purely different cultural and global views. But whatever the reason is for the violence, the killing and the horrible things that we hear about everyday, it doesn’t mean we have to give up on fighting for something better. And it also doesn’t mean that dire circumstances experienced in life threatening issues such as war, translate to the problems we face everyday.
If you really think about it, there is nothing in this world that can’t be overcome and there is only one definite end to the lives we lead. If there are times we feel like there’s no getting out, no resolution and no way to overcome the situations we are in, we need get better at telling ourselves that there always is. The more that we remind ourselves on a daily basis that finishing that report, cleaning the house or making sure the kids get to bed on time aren’t situations that need life or death stress, the better we as a combined group of people will be able to handle the situations like war, violence and crime that deserve that amount of attention. Don’t sweat the small stuff is a phrase we all know for a very good reason.
Not to be one that suggests something without an idea or two to make it possible, here’s my list of things you can do when the situations in your day to day start to pile up and make you feel like you need go outside the lines you typically stay within.
- Smile: Seriously, just do it. You’ll feel better.
- Smile at someone else: If they smile back, you feel good. If they give you a weird look, you laugh. Win-Win.
- Breathe: It helps to relax and see what’s really in front of you.
- Dance all by yourself: Yup, I do it. It’s awesome. Try some Spice Girls or a little Destiny’s Child. Shakes your troubles away.
- Offer to help someone: Do it cause you can, they’ll thank you and you’ll feel good.
- Sing in your car: No one can hear you and if you crank the music, you can’t even hear yourself.
- Hug someone: We do not hug enough. Screw waving to your friends, run up and give them a bear hug!
- Text/IM someone just to say hi: We spend so much time only connecting online when we need something. Do it just cause!
- Watch Bloopers: Go to youtube, type your favorite tv show name then type bloopers. I recommend Friends, especially the Pivot bloopers.
- Watch Reality TV: Honestly, life feels better when you realize there’s a large amount of the population learning who Honey Boo-Boo is.
- Laugh: At a joke, at a situation, or just cause.
- Jump on your bed: Be wary of low ceilings.
- Make a snowman: A had a family with a Momma, Poppa and a baby in my yard all last winter. I do not have children.
- Plan to buy an island: Google the real estate sites, pick out your island, watch the Swiss Family Robinson, then think about all the stuff in your live you’d miss. Go do whatever you think you’d miss.
- Cry: Sometimes the best way to deal is to let yourself fall pieces and start over.
Obviously it’s not a list that will solve all the trouble we have in this world, but if you make your life better and happier then that’s one less person the world has to worry about. So call me an optimist, call me naive, but I plan on living my days as happy as I can and always finding another reason to fight for better. What about you?