It’s an action, yes? You have to choose to look for the good. Anyone can do it. You don’t have to be educated, rich, lucky, pretty, smart, healthy or popular. You just have to choose. In any situation. If you are unhappy and you don’t want to be- look for something. Something small. Something to hang your hat on. It’s there. In the midwest of the United States it’s not uncommon to hear people recognize, “It could be worse!” And indeed it could. Find beauty. Actively seek it out. You can’t always change others or the world around you. You can decide how you are going to respond to it. For years now I’ve kept a gratitude journal. Each day I try to think of three things I’m grateful for. Somedays, well most days they’re mundane occurances. Milk in my coffee. A favorite tune on the car radio. A book on CD by a favorite author on the shelf the day I go to the library. Other days it’s pure magic and wonder; the day I married Lovey, the day Zuzu entered the world. The day I found out the Quail was in me. Some days it’s a feeling; the Quail’s tight little fists balled up around my neck; Zuzu racing across the playground hollaring, “Momma!!!” at top speed; the moment before I give in to sleep for the night. Or a smell; be it sage turkey on Christmas morning; the lingering smell of pie crust baked the night before; or the coffee wafting from the kitchen when I come out of our room. Those moments are there. I just have to find a way to take time to notice them. And when a moment is bad; well lately I’ve been working on simply letting it pass. Noticing it yes, reflecting on the cause and repercussions; but the moment that notice turns into rumination; I’m done with it. Time to move on and look for those tiny everyday miracles that weave a tapesty into the fabric of the life I want to remember when I curl up with it years from now. When I can’t come up up with something to pull me from my funk on my own, I turn to others who are grateful and borrow from them. One of my favoriate places for a happy thought? Secret Society of Happy People. I like that they exist. In secret. And there is a whole society of them out there.

Corner view is a weekly Wednesday date hosted originally hosted by Jane, currently by Francesca. A topic is given and you can see impressions; be it in photographic or poetic in form from around the world:  Jane, Dana, Bonny, Joyce, Ian, Francesca, Theresa, Cate, Kasia, Otli, Trinsch, Isabelle, Janis, Kari, jgy, Lise, Dorte, McGillicutty, Sunnymama, Ibb, Kelleyn, Ninja, Sky, RosaMaria, Juniper, Valerie, Sammi, Cole, Don, WanderChow, FlowTops, Tania, Tzivia, Kristin, Laura, Guusje, Susanna, Juana, Elsa, Nadine