"It's a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy.
"
Lucille Ball
True that Lucy!
I've spent a good thirty odd years as a human being on this wierd little planet and I've noticed something...... We're all nuts!
We rush, we stress, we rush, we stress, we yell, we don't get enough sleep... we stress.... We schedule fun....
I have questioned the above cycle... a heck of a lot.
I've questioned certain behaviours, motives behind behaviour, negativity, anger, jealously, guilt, the works - I have questioned others behaviour and my own even though I like to think of myself as a somewhat positive character.
Until February of 2010....
This was where I met one of the most amazing humans I know.
Allow me to set the scene:
My 6 year old daughter has started another year at the local dance school. She swans in, circling the dusty, timber clad church hall with her twirls, sparkles and addictive giggle accompanied by a flutter of equally as excitable cherubs. I nod and do the small-talk catch ups with the parents from years gone by and take my seat in preparation for the 45 minute lesson, my 4 year old son clinging to my leg all shy koala-like.
Three or so metres to my left a new parent sits with her auburn haired son, her daughter has skipped her way to the lesson. I welcome them with a smile and a wave.
"I'm two!" chirps Ewan, possibly one of the happiest children I've met.
A few weeks into the classes the new parent and her delightfully happy offspring Ewan and Chloe and I are finding common humour with the mother., which to me plays extremely important role in starting a friendship.
Hold up! I have just realized, this new mother needs a name, I will call her .......... Kirsty!
I notice Kirsty's face is slightly bruised and puffy around her jaw. I figure it's the swollen result of a wisdom tooth extraction.
"I had a tumour removed from my jaw." states Kirsty casually. She's so calm and relaxed about it. It seems like time slows down and all is quiet for what seems an eternity until I murmur ever so awkwardly "Er, oh, wow...". My mouth may or may not be ajar at this stage.
Now, from personally experiencing loved ones reactions to hearing similarly shocking news, I would've expected sadness, denial, anger or negativity. None of these reactions surfaced.
Arriving home, I was still thinking about Kirsty's fantastic positivity. Never had I met such an undeniably inspiringly strong woman.
The great news is Kirsty's tumour wasn't malignant and was successfully removed, using part of her hip to graft into a new jaw.
Kirsty all funny like, still to this day sings her own adaptation of "Dem Dry Bones" - "The thigh bone's connected to the hip bone, the hip bone's connected to the jaw bone".
The other wonderful news is Kirsty and I have remained friends. I am truly honoured to have such a beautifully happy and influential person in my life.
I, up until just recently have been questioning my reactions to certain experiences, whether my behaviour is of a negative nature. Whether my reactions would affect others. It's the rat-race that is my everyday life, these questions have since slipped to the way side.
I've recently been diagnosed with a condition which has inadvertently resulted in me having to take the slow lane of life.
...... It's fantastic!
Sure, I'm not as quick as I used to be and I may or may not occasionally murmur a stutter, or drop a cup. But I now pace myself, my life, my happiness. I now view my life, my fabulous kids, my fiance, my family, friends and strangers lives in a far more respectful, humourous and mindful manner without forethought.
Glass half full you ask? You betcha!
Kirsty, I get it! Negativity breeds negativity, whether it be in my life or elsewhere. While I was focusing on working on the negative aspects of my behaviour, to be more positive, I inevitably was tangling myself up into a negativity blanket!
Lucille hit the nail on the head, finding what makes you happy is a great start.... It all seems to fall into place after that.
Living in the now, being kind, compassionate and mindful, laughter, my kids, fiance friends and family, all make me happy.
Simple, ain't it?
I often think of Kirsty and her outlook on life, I trust her objectivity and honesty and truly believe that she and Lucille are definitely onto something.....
