Choosing my day
It started off as a really bad morning. Well, first I lost my ring. Then I spilt coffee all over the place. I ended up leaving the house late hoping to still make it to the train station on time (considering the traffic is always lighter on Fridays). Unfortunately there was a trailer that had an accident and was on fire on the interstate which meant traffic was backed up both ways for miles and people were taking shortcuts through the by-lanes. I not only missed my train but was beginning to doubt if I'd make it in time for the next one. I would have missed the next one too because there was this freight train stalled on the tracks that I needed to cross before I got to the station. I finally got through and made it to the station. It took me exactly one hour and ten minutes to get from my house to the train station. A distance of 2.5 miles. Ridiculous, wouldn't you agree? And that means I am in a really bad mood. Grrrr.....
It started off as a morning that could have been bad, but turned out pretty great after all. Well, I lost my ring. But I found it again hiding under the comforter. Then I spilt coffee all over the place. But I was lucky that I had a tray and all the coffee split on the tray, sparing the brand new carpet in the bedroom. I missed my train. It took over an hour to reach the train station when it should take less than ten minutes. Ridiculous, agreed. But I still made it to the next train and reached work before nine. I mean, it could've been so much worse. Right? I think it is going to be a beautiful day.
Strange isn't it how we look at things? React to them in different ways. Someone sent me a very nice email about a 90-10 principle in life. Things that we do not have control on, that happen to us out of the blue make up about 10 percent of the situation. How we react to them makes up the other 90 percent. We can choose to be angry, we can choose to be in a bad mood, we can choose to blame everything around us and have a bad day. Or we can choose to look on the brighter side and realize how lucky we were that it wasn't any worse. We can choose to have a beautiful day instead.
It started off as a morning that could have been bad, but turned out pretty great after all. Well, I lost my ring. But I found it again hiding under the comforter. Then I spilt coffee all over the place. But I was lucky that I had a tray and all the coffee split on the tray, sparing the brand new carpet in the bedroom. I missed my train. It took over an hour to reach the train station when it should take less than ten minutes. Ridiculous, agreed. But I still made it to the next train and reached work before nine. I mean, it could've been so much worse. Right? I think it is going to be a beautiful day.
Strange isn't it how we look at things? React to them in different ways. Someone sent me a very nice email about a 90-10 principle in life. Things that we do not have control on, that happen to us out of the blue make up about 10 percent of the situation. How we react to them makes up the other 90 percent. We can choose to be angry, we can choose to be in a bad mood, we can choose to blame everything around us and have a bad day. Or we can choose to look on the brighter side and realize how lucky we were that it wasn't any worse. We can choose to have a beautiful day instead.
Labels: Personal, Reflections
posted by M (tread softly upon) at 9:34 AM
26 Comments:
This is exactly what I need this morning:)
:) Well put... remind me this again when am all grumpy.. and totally pessismistic about living itself!:)
@ ratna you're welcome:)
@ mieasha I will :) while I remind myself every minute :))
Exactly my philosophy: 'always try to look at the brighter side. :)
Yeah, quite true. Bad day and everything seems wrong. And when things feel good, everything feels great.
Oh! My 90-10 principle says 90% is out of the blue!
Hey,
First timer on your blog and loved this post-grt thing to read when your working (and grumbling) on a sat morning!:-)
I know what you mean and, I guess, I agree too. But, the trouble is, sometimes, when things aren't going your way, and I mean really not your way, it's a bit hard to keep your head up and keep feeling positive or to look at the brighter side. I guess it's easier being a grouch bag! :-) On a particularly bad day, of course, it seems like the whole world has ganged up against you :-)
ooh, M, very Jeffrey Archer-ish. and that's a compliment, in case you're not into his kind of lit. lovely depiction of the 'point of view'. i'll remember this when i'm stuck in landsdowne road on monday :)
Being peeved off for a while is not a bad thing, but staying peeved at the situation is a bad thing. This I guess depends on how malleable the person is - I usually change my frame of mind quite soon and recover - It after all should be a beautiful day, why ruin one day of your life !
cheers
@ kele panchu me too :))
@ pidus ghosh it's how you see things.
@ ekta thanks for visiting my blog and I'm glad this cheered you up.
@ ghostoftomjoad I totally agree. It is hard to be positive when you feel things are not going your way.
@ rimi thanks!!! I absolutely love(d) Jeffrey Archer. Read through them all some years back. Haven't read any in a while. I heard he landed in jail for something and started writing about prison life.
@ tbg I try too but sometimes it's hard to get over things and moods.
these days.. with the rollercoasterish life that i am currently living...ive learnt to shut my eyes and just let the hill pass....then open my eyes when my tummy doesnt do those flip flops anymore...and i forcemyself to think of the good times.
this was a very reassuring post :)
yes, things could be a lot worse, so count your blessings! its just that, on a bad day, thats the last thing one thinks of :)
Me, I like to look at the down-side. A pessimist is never disappointed.
Besides, most determinedly cheerful people I know are just downright painful.
Nice blog, but this standard template is tough on the eyes.
daarun post! loved it, absolutely! :)
Awesome..I wish I could look at everyday like this.
some of your posts i have picked out and saved in a txt file. will read them when i am frust :)
V positive post. Have a beautiful day.
@ grafxgurl we all go through rollercoaster rides. So hang in there!
@ aparna that's exactly what I was trying to say. It is hard and you don't want to. But if you force yourself may be you'll see things aren't that bad.
@ arthur quiller couch welcome to my blog although if I read you right you find me "painful" and my template "tough" to read. Yet I being the optimist that I am am hoping you'll come back again :))
@ acroyali dhonyobad. Really!
@ roshoman thanks. And honestly, me too :)
@ dd that's the sweetest thing anyone's ever said....thank you. May be next time I can write to you so that you can remind me :)
@ sphinx thanks. And you have a wonderful day too.
Not meaning to ruin the general mood...but I remember reading this in "In the Country of the Saints"...Chapter 1...when they're stranded in the desert and he asks her to do a little praying...she tells him...“I’ll tell her [her mom] how awful good you’ve been. I’ll bet she meets us at the door of heaven with a big pitcher of water, and a lot of buckwheat cakes, hot, and toasted on both sides, like Bob and me was fond of. How long will it[the obvious 'it' here] be first?”
Fate's humor is indeed quaint at times...good for you that the tray was there when the coffee spilt.
That's really something. After all that you described happened, you still have a positive outlook on that! hmm...A tough act to follow.
Awesome! Your positivity is inspiring!
:)
If I had a similar turn of events, I would be pissed off...u seem to have a very positive attitude...keep it up
Yes, sometimes we forget to look on the other side...but there are people like you who do, and lead happier lives because of it :-), its so nice to read this in writing.
@ r.i.m. Fate's humor is indeed quaint. Wouldn't hurt you to be a little optimistic at times.
@ jinguchakka I'm not always that positive. What I wrote was the way I was trying to reason and see if there really was a different way of seeing things.
@ casa thanks but wish I could inspire myself more often :)
@ point 5 trust me so was I....
@ bidisha well can't say i am the happier few. I don't always analyze this way :) But I am trying.
oh! yes, i had such a mail read out to me by my dad who received the forward from one of his friend....and trust me i seriously believ the fact that our reaction to things around us actually makes the difference......to be happy or not, or rather the power of acceptance makes us deal with situation better :)....me saying all this?doesnt suit me, i know;-)
Wonderful and informative web site. I used information from that site its great. Valtrex work time http://www.beforeandaftersofbreastaugmentation.info/breast-enlargement-scotland.html 9700 card graphic radeon Yahoo breast enlargement groups Ballroom dance bakersfield california Slideshows software Alcohol drinking wellbutrin asportingbet gambling offshore wagering online football http://www.phones-5.info/254faxnumber.html
Post a Comment
<< Home