With the holiday season fast approaching,  it’s easy to get wrapped up in the physical and emotional demands required to get through the season.  With these stresses come anxiety, sometimes leading to sadness and melancholy. Every day we have the power to make a choice.  We can choose to be excited, happy, blessed, grateful, negative, grumpy, angry or sad. At Thanksgiving, we are thankful. But being happy is a conscious choice.  Only you are in charge of how you feel.  People wait all week for Friday or their whole life for happiness.  Start by being happy today.  It’s the only day promised, don’t waste it.

Choose to be happy.  It’s not always easy. In fact sometimes it is downright hard and everyone has bad days.  I am often told that I am an idealist and live in my own little dream world. My husband claims he’s a realist. So does my daughter and they make fun of my view.  Well, is there anything wrong with wanting to view life that way?  Isn’t life hard enough?  I remember dropping my kids off to school every morning and sending them off with a “Today’s a good day, choose to be happy!” I know I nauseated them with that repetitive comment day after day, in fact some days they probably wanted to strangle me. BUT, at least I felt they were prepared for whatever unfolded during their days with having my words echoing in their heads. I’m sure their perspective was quite different, more like ‘annoying mom’ preaching “Choooose to be happy” ringing in their ears.

Studies say happiness and health are interconnected.  There is truth to the saying, “laughter is the best medicine.” Sometimes you just have to say to yourself that things could always be worse. Yes, I know, such a cliche. But what if you twisted your thought process and outlook and initiated positive self talk, such as instead of hating your job, at least be thankful you have a job. In my case, instead of me constantly body shaming myself and complaining about my fat calves (which make boot shopping and skinny jean shopping my worst nightmare), saying to myself, at least I have legs that work.  Or instead of reluctantly lugging myself to the gym, which everyone who knows me knows I hate, at least I am healthy and get to go to the gym.  Hey, if you want to get right down to it, next time you whine about your life, at least you woke up today and still have one.  A boat doesn’t sink because it’s surrounded by water, it sinks when it allows the water to flow in.  Don’t allow the negativity to flow in and poison your body and thoughts.  Today can be the start of a new attitude.  That’s the good thing about each sunrise. It’s another chance to embrace what we have and start anew.  Maybe my disposition has something to do with my upbringing, which to say was dysfunctional is an understatement.  I could have sunken into the pits of depression many times, of which at times can rear its ugly head. So yes, if I decide to wake up and look at each day with positivity and make the conscious choice to “choose to be happy” that’s a choice and world I would rather live in.

Bonus:  Super Easy Corn Bake recipe and always a hit!

1 Pkg. Jiffy corn muffin mix
2 eggs
8 0z. sour cream
1 stick butter
1 14 0z can regular corn (drained)
1 14 oz can cream style corn

Spray bowl with cooking spray, mix all ingredients together, put into bowl and bake covered, on lower rack at 400 for about 1 hour until set.  Uncover and bake on top rack at 350 for about 1/2 hour until slightly browned. Serve as a side and enjoy! Happy Thanksgiving…