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As my fingers struck the keys that crafted this title, in my head I could hear the grouches, the cynics, and the naysayers.

Lately, I’ve read articles penned by fellow writers bashing positivity, encouraging people to unleash their rage, and letting them know that it’s absolutely acceptable to do that.

They pooh-pooh the silver lining, incite volatile emotions, and invite others to practice anger.

I agree—believe me. Of course, it is good to release those feelings and emotions. It is healthy to find an outlet that is cathartic—if it is, indeed, cathartic.

Why do I say that?

Because it has been shown that practicing anger can actually make you an angry person. The more you get angry, the angrier you become. And if you want to be angry—well, I guess that works.

Do note that the date in the above link to this particular research is 2009, but it remains true today. Adrenaline is released into the bloodstream. Your body prepares for fight or flight, and this can become addictive, a compulsion of sorts.

Hello, Hell on Wheels! You may now be the person who lashes out in the supermarket and engages those around him to agree with you—misery encouraging and inviting more misery.

I usually think, “Nut job.” Eye contact ceases while I become busy with any other activity and pray that person will magically disappear—and fast.

Some of us don’t choose or want to be angry. It doesn’t mean we don’t get angry, but rather we choose to not make it a way of life.

This does not mean that we don’t see life for what it is, people for who they are, or put on rose-colored glasses for any situation that we see or hear.

We choose to see it, process it, learn, and grow.

Some people relish in their anger, misery, and problems while others choose to visit with their anger, then release it in a healthy way. They find the lessons in each and every experience and transform problems into challenges or obstacles that can be overcome.

There are solutions—therefore there are no problems.

So what I’m about to write may be ridiculed, poked fun at, or dismissed. Yet I encourage you to read and absorb the words—digest them, then decide how you want to perceive this message.

I’m completely guilty of always looking for the good. Yes, my patience and tolerance level may be high. My threshold for difficult people may be strong, but I am realistic and I see people and situations for what they are.

That doesn’t mean I need to fuel it, repel it, or get caught up in the drama that’s inviting me to participate.

Some of us want to address, fix, and solve. Some of us want to pull up a chair, b*tch, and moan. Yes, misery does, indeed, love company. That timeless quote does ring true.

I choose to be part of the solution—not part of the problem. I choose to lift others up—not push them down. I choose to bring out the angel—not the devil—in others. I don’t wear a halo and I’m not a Pollyanna—I just don’t choose to engage.

But I don’t always succeed. Just ask my partner. He’ll tell you. I can be pretty rotten at times.

Yet today—today was a reminder of the plethora of wonderful people in this world who we may be blessed to encounter.

I took PTO (paid time off) to visit a number of doctors between my mother and I. It was a chaotic day, jumpstarted with a work meeting (despite PTO) and followed by a time sensitive, pressured schedule of events.

Having survived COVID-19 to date, I’m no longer accustomed to that harried pace. It was once my norm, but today my life is focused, steady, and mundane. Not mundane in a bad way—but mundane in a way that affords me the opportunity to slow down, experience more with less, and just be.

Today wasn’t that!

Yet from the moment I readied to leave the house, the magic began.

An inviting card sitting on my doorstep, beckoning me to open it when I returned. Purely magical.

Text messages with a neighbor—a stranger, actually—who has become an old friend and we’ve yet to meet. The texts were followed by a phone call that pretty much proved we will be friends for life. Purely magical.

A doctor’s visit with my mother where we found ourselves in a waiting room engaged in dialogue and laughter. In those moments, I was made aware that cell phones have robbed us of real-life human interaction—the common courtesy of saying hello to a stranger, sharing a smile, and making small talk about anything and everything.

The jovial personality of one personable man and his mother brought us all together. Purely magical.

And a neighbor who rang my bell with the intent of delivering a holiday gift to my fur-baby. Unexpected, surprising, and what a delight. Purely magical.

Countless people passed through our day and brought smiles to our faces, lit fires within our souls, and warmed our hearts.

Why don’t we ever hear about this on the news? Why don’t we choose to find reasons to be happy versus miserable? Why can’t we choose to see the good in people—then seek more of those people out of the crowd?

It’s a beautiful feeling, an overwhelming one of joy, gratitude, and hope.

For me, it’s a high, like a drug. It inspires me. It fuels me. It intoxicates me. And with each interaction that follows, I pay it forward.

That card made me happy, then I shared the happiness with someone else. The sense of pleasantry and joy that our waiting room friends evoked had us choose to share that with everyone we encountered for the rest of the day.

The smiles were endless. The joy within was immeasurable. And the reminder that there is so much good in this world was inspirational.

Some days are magical. Look for it, seek it, and savor it.

Tomorrow may be sh*tty, but today was darned good.

~