Grumpy is easy to achieve, but so is being grateful…well, it
should be easy. Now that I think about it, expressing gratitude can require
practice, especially when frustrating circumstances pop up. I like to flip the
switch on a grumpy day by using humor and expressing gratitude that the
situation was not worse.
My son once told me, “Ma, you’re the most positive person I
know. If I tell you, I broke my toe, you’ll say, ‘at least you have nine other
healthy ones.’”
That is not a totally true statement. I strive to practice
positivity, but there are glitches in my system. Sometimes complaints flow from
that hole in my face, called a mouth, like a waterfall.
I’ve come home from work to dirty dishes in the sink, mail
scattered on a table, and so many shoes at my front door that it looks like we’re
part owner of a Footlocker shoe store. Before I even make it to my bedroom, I
stop to straighten couch pillows, straighten shoes, and move random dishes to
the kitchen. I do all of this mumbling and grumbling.
Instead of stressing myself over the little things I decided
to flip the script. I set my mind to resolve this situation with humor tactics.
The President of the United States has the State of the Union address, I
created the State of the House address, and it’s not the House of
Representative.
My State of the House address would include the following (directed
to my offspring)…
Fourscore and 20 years ago we moved into this house. A
declaration was created, giving you unalienable rights. However, those rights were
under the discretion of “The People” hereafter known as “The Parents.” Article
7 Clause 2 says Honor thy mother and father…oh wait, that statement is from a
different book. But follow it anyway.
If you look at the photo attached to this article, how many
people would you think reside there? If you guessed any more than three, you’d
be wrong. The reason they are so neatly arranged is because I organized them
for the photo.
I no longer get frustrated when things are out of place. I
enjoy the company of laughing with my son and turning his shenanigans into
comedy. And I wish him well when he has kids. Just to prepare him for what is
to come, I demonstrated when I visited his house.
My son had a few pair of shoes neatly lined up at his front
door. I said, “Oh, your shoes re so neat.” I gave each pair a little kick, “Now
that’s better.”
My son looked at me and rolled his eyes.
You may have heard it before; Laughter is good medicine; it
can turn your day around. The next time you’re having a grumpy day, stop, take
a deep breath, then engage in something that will make you laugh.
