Monday, May 5, 2008

Moments for Me Monday - week 3

I'm editing this post to add a Make Me Laugh Monday tidbit....My daughter made me laugh and I want to share!

I walk into the kitchen and my daughter is found giggling in her shy demure way with her hand covering her mouth and giggle.

Me: "What's so funny"
Smurfette: "I burped from my butt" (giggle giggle)




I had a difficult time this week squeezing in a Moment for me...Papa smurf was in Europe all week so I was playing the single parent role. And then when he finally returned Friday night I was sick....again....with a nasty head and chest cold that has me down and out. So my Moment for me was spent curled up in bed beside a mountain of snot rags....I don't think that counts! So, I leave you with this.....


Another Happiness Now quote...pg 34....

"True happiness is also very attractive in that it literally attracts great things. Happiness, by its very nature, encourages trust, spontaneity, optimism, and enthusiasm - all of which bring great gifts. In particular, when you dare to be happy, you find that people instinctively gravitate to you and like you, although they may not know why. Maybe it's something to do with your smile. Whatever it is, your happiness is an inspiration and a gift to everyone. Everyone benefits from true happiness...everyone benefits from your happiness."

This paragraph reminded me of one of the greatest complements I've ever received. I was a fresh college grad and interviewing for a RN position at a hospital. I had already been working at this hospital for 2 years as a Nurse Tech and thoroughly LOVED my job. My manager that was interviewing me told me that she liked me and was giving me the position because she thought "my enthusiasm and positive attitude were contagious". That one simple complement has stuck with me all these years....13 years to be exact.


Negativity and Positivity ARE contagious. It's extremely difficult to maintain a positive attitude when you're surrounded by negativity. Nurses tend to be an unhappy bunch. Complaints of being over worked and under paid are an epidemic. I certainly don't deny the nursing shortage ....BUT.... I remember as a nurse constantly observing the same group of nurses standing at the nurses station complaining about how short staffed it was and all I could think was....if you spent half as much time getting your work done as you do standing behind the desk complaining about the understaffed situation you'd have nothing to complain about. They literally made the situatuation worse than it had to be with all their complaining....because complaining takes time and effort.


It takes far greater time and energy to be negative.


So smack a smile on that kisser and just BE HAPPY!


I remember watching an Oprah show (surprise, surprise) and she had a guy on the show (can't remember who or what he was...so if someone reads this and can shed some light....I think he may have been a pastor) who was trying to promote happiness through the symbolism of a very simple bracelet. He was challenging the world to put the bracelet on and the goal was to keep the bracelet on the same wrist for X amount of days straight (I think it was like 30 days but I'm not positive). Everytime you complain about something or say ANYthing negative you have to switch the bracelet over to the opposite wrist. So the challenge was to try to go 30 straight days (or something like that) without a single complaint or negative statement. I didn't actually go out and buy a bracelet but it certainly made me more aware of my own negativity. Try it! It's not as easy as it sounds!


Again, I feel like I need to add a disclaimer here. I'm NOT trying to insinuate in any of these Moment For Me or Happiness Now posts that I walk around all day with a blissful smile and never complain about a thing and my life is just all roses and sugar! It's not. EVERYone has bad days. EVERYone complains. EVERY mom out there feels the fleeting urge to drop kick one of her children out the front door. And, EVERY wife gets an occasional itch that can't be scratched until she bips her husband in the head (figuratively speaking) for being stupid. These posts are about changing your general outlook on life and recognizing how your general outlook attracts negativity/positivity in your life.


So, come on, link to your own "Moment for Me" post...share your own smile today. Inspire others to do the same.



15 comments:

Kellan said...

I'm sorry you have been feeling sick - bummer!!!

I am all for happiness, btw - ALL FOR IT!!

Nice to see you - take care and I hope you get to feeling better. Kellan

Kate said...

I'll be back with my own post (hopefully) but I just gotta say, I'm totally with ya. I LOVE the quote and totally agree that happiness can be contagious. It really can have a ripple effect.

And like you, I am that enthusiastic, positive person in my job. I work on a nursing unit and hear the same complaints from the nurses, and you're right, it doesn't help the situation. And being someone who FIGHTS to stay happy and positive, it really is a bummer to be around people like that. But I just grin and beat it. :)

Hope you get feeling better soon and are back on your feet!

Kate said...

Or, BEAR it.

Although maybe BEATing it would be more helpful! LOL

Anonymous said...

I think your disposition shines through in your blog. That's why I like reading you. You seem, to me, like you're a pretty happy person. And it is contagious. Negativity is a total downer. But you're right about that being conatagious as well. Sometimes I think the whole "misery loves company" thing can suck people in without them knowing. That's why I try to stay aware of my state of mind at all times.

Colleen - Mommy Always Wins said...

Lovely quote and thought for the day! Hope you're feeling better!

Don Mills Diva said...

What an inspirational post - happiness is contagious and I needed the reminder today...

Heather J. said...

Gosh darn it woman! You made me cry.

I let negitivity take too much away from me and you reminded me of that.

Got to tell you, sometimes the truth hurts!

Kori said...

Good post; I won't be linking, though, LOL. you ARE right. I will work on it. but not today. :) thanks for dropping by the old blog, good to have another visitor who doesn't read it and run away screaming and calling CPS.

Marni's Organized Mess said...

I love this idea... but I'm finding it very hard to not only get that moment in alone, but to make a point to blog it. So hopefully I'll get around to one today, but if not, I am still alive.

Happy2bme said...

Hi Tammy -
I didn't get the book yet. I've been sick with the flu the past two days and wasn't able to write my MFMM today. I'll be back later to read your post.
Take Care,
Katie

Dana said...

i hope you start feeling better...

Happiness can be contagious and it is a great feeling..

Happy Monday :)

LittlePaintedPolkaDots said...

I hope you feel better! HUGS!

stitchin' girl said...

I totally buy into the positive attitude-happy outlook way of life. It makes things so much easier, even the times that are a bit more challenging. My laughable quote for the day:

My 6 year old daughter found a marble in the back yard (don't ask!) and came to me with it. She then asked, "Mommy, if I plant this marble, will it grow into a marble tree? We need lots more marbles."

I managed another Moment for Me - with some more sewing!!! I love this challenge - it is keeping me thinking of me a wee bit more - a good thing!!

elasticwaistbandlady said...

Burping from your butt is impressive but she'll only really be ready for the circus sideshow when she can squeeze a rude rip-roaring noise out of every orifice simultaneously.

I'm almost there.

Anonymous said...

I guess you find those kind of people everywhere. I used to teach and a lot of the faculty spent time complaining about things. It drove me crazy! Those bracelets sound interesting. I doubt I'd be able to go a whole 30 days though.