Turning a corner

For the past several weeks, maybe even months, I have been overwhelmed by feelings of negativity. I feel like life has really been a battle this year, and that battle has managed, over time, to bring me down a bit. My dad passed away in February so that sucked. Then my son was born, and even though this was a joyous event, and even though I love the little guy to death, life with a newborn is just a challenge. Lots of sleepless nights and crying and acid reflux, combined with a 2-year old and typical toddler behavior, combined with work stress and swine flu and economic collapse and blah, blah, blah. Anyway, the point is I have been in a funk.

This week, though, I feel like I am turning a corner. Samuel has been sleeping through the night and that has been such a tremendous blessing. At the same time, Emelia has gotten through potty training and that is a milestone. At the same time we have a vacation coming up after last year's trip got blown out by Hurricane Ike (I think God knew I would need a vacation more this year than last. I think He's right...but then again, isn't He always?). And so all these factors are coming together is a way that makes me feel like perhaps the roughest stretch is behind me, and maybe...MAYBE...there are sunnier skies ahead.

And you know what? It's good to just feel good again. I realized after chatting a bit with my wife that happiness is as much about choice as it is about circumstances. For the most part, I have chosen to focus on the positive and ignore the negative throughout my adult life. After all, life is always filled with trials. For some reason, though, I have been doing the opposite lately. I think it's because the negative has been so "overwhelming" lately. It's been difficult not to notice it. Or perhaps the older you get the more the negative starts to pile up in your rearview mirror. I don't know.

What I do know is that, if I can, and if God will help, I am going to choose to be happy as best I can moving forward. I feel good just for thinking this way - especially with the new year approaching.