It’s not uncommon to hear feedback about the way I approach life. But before I tell you what I hear from others, let me tell you a couple of things I already knew, before these responses started to trickle in.
I am weird. My positive attitude can be overwhelming. People can’t handle so much “rah rah.” When I am surrounded by my family, I see it more clearly, because, sitting around the table, I see a lot of people who believe in the same things I do, so, in fact, we’re all weird!
I didn’t always see this, but today, when I hear someone suggest that I should take off the rose-colored glasses, I know that I come by it honestly!
Recently, someone told me about a conversation they had with someone about me — and I was not surprised to hear: “They don’t have a problem with you, they know you are aware that they can only take so much ‘rah rah.’”
Yes. I am aware. We can have that understanding. We can make it work.
I am aware that the world has made people unwilling to embrace a positive attitude, regardless of how Pollyanna it might appear.
There are days when I am not sure it’s worth it. I struggle to keep shining the light.
I wonder if everyone else might be right, and I really am just weird in the sense that I should adjust to fit into the negativity that makes them feel so comfortable.
I wonder if I should “be more realistic, less optimistic; More “get a grip on reality;” Less, “people say I’m a dreamer.”
But, here’s the thing. The more I give in to “reality” the more difficult it is to get through the day.
The more I get angry at the check-out line when there’s a person paying with loose change, slowing me down.
The more frustrated I get when someone is driving slowly and I am in a hurry.
The more I want to give an attitude back to the snarky person behind the counter who is having a bad day — or maybe a bad life.
The more I obsess about a mean comment on Facebook.
The more I look for things to be miserable, or annoyed by.
The more I want bad things to happen to people who have hurt me.
I don’t want to live like that.
And, I don’t want to be around people who live like that. So, when someone suggests that there’s too much “rah rah,” I choose less time with that person.
I used to pull back the “rah rah,” and try to “blend in” with everyone else, but I’ve learned that there’s no benefit to me (or others) to shrink myself so that others can feel more comfortable.
Instead, I just keep beating the “rah rah” drum and looking for those who like the beat.
Living a life that is filled with joy, acceptance, and a refusal to accept that it should be any other way, is the only way I want to strive to live.
I want to continue to believe in what is possible. I believe that things will all work out. They always do. And, sometimes, they work out even better than I had imagined they would.
I hope I will be able to hold on to this attitude for the rest of my life. It has changed me, and it has taught me so much about how I want to live.
If you’ve ever wanted to see more positivity in the world, just look for it. It’s right under your nose.
Rose-colored glasses? Nah, it’s not the glasses. We just need a little more rah rah in the world!
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