Are you happy?

A while back I came across the above picture on pinterest - at first glance it made me chuckle because it's 100% right. Whether you're happy or unhappy it's your choice.

It's interesting to me how profound of an influence one person's negative or positive attitude can have on the masses.

Here's one lovely example that has recently taught me this lesson...

For the past 2.5 months I've been participating in a boot camp class 3 times a week. It's hard. Really hard. Like, think of the hardest workout you've ever done, times it by 10 and then that's about how tough it is.

During the first 4 weeks of our class there was a lady who would come that no matter what we did she always had some sort of complaint or negative comment. I remember one particular time, we were about half-way into our workout, sweat was dripping off my face and I was struggling to do medicine ball wall sits and as I was squatting there against the wall all I could hear was the lady next to me repeating over and over "This hurts....my legs are shaking...I don't think I can make it any longer...ow ow ow ow!!! etc. etc." It took a lot of self control to not shout over at this lady and say, "Hey, can't you see that we're all shaking, hurting, sweating and hating this as much as you are?!?! Please just STOP complaining."

It was frustrating to see the effect this particular participant was having on all of us. The discouragement was visible in all our faces. We were all out there struggling together and were continually being deflated by the complainer.

Let's contrast that with the last two weeks of the same class. Our good friend the complainer hasn't been attending and last week, just about the time one of the ladies was ready to quit one of the other ladies started yelling down the field "You can do it, you're almost here! Keep it up! Come on, come on, come on!!" And you know what, as much as it still hurt and as hard as it was - she made it and then we all powered through the remaining 40 minutes of our workout.

The only difference - one person's attitude.

So, dear friends - if you're under the impression that your attitude doesn't effect anyone except yourself you are WRONG.

Life is better when you're positive. When you share optimism. When you encourage.

I recently re-read my post from January titled Search for Happy...the words from that post are as true today as they were 7 months ago.

Happiness is a choice people - and we have every reason to rejoice!

Get out there and CHOOSE HAPPINESS!!