LET JOY BE THE NEW BLACK

Hello hello hello and welcome to the ABTY Blog,

I was recently in the elevator of my apartment building during the peak hour morning rush, and happened to be in  a particularly cheerful mood. Now the only reason I noticed my mood to be particularly cheerful was that the man beside me commented upon it as such.

I had simply wished him a delightful day, with a smile on my face and a spring in my step, as I bounded into the lift.

He was so stunned, that he actually looked up from his i-phone to see from whom this bizarre comment and suggestion had come ha ha.

Apparently it is not normal to be looking forward to the week on a Monday?

In fact, he commented to me: ” You are rather cheerful for a Monday morning. Where is your Monday-itis?”

Mmmmmmmmm I pondered………

And this question really got me thinking……..

But it did not get me thinking where my Monday-itis was……….

It got me thinking why, as a society we have become so conditioned to see a negative approach to life as the norm. When you think about it – why could a joy and zest for life not be the norm instead?

I mean – who decided that we should all march off to work on a Monday, full of sadness and gloom?

Who decided that we should view life as this endless challenge and cycle of horrible 5 day working weeks and 2 day weekends?

Weekends full of weariness and dread for the week ahead.

Why not establish a culture where heading off to work on a Monday is relished with joy, and seen as an opportunity to bring something wonderful to the day and the people around you?

Imagine if JOY was on the agenda?

Imagine if everyone actually saw their work day as an opportunity to contribute to the Planet in a meaningful way?

Imagine if we all stepped out into the world on a Monday morning [ or whenever it is you go to work ] with a song in our hearts, a spring in our steps and a mission to just make one other human beings day a little brighter that day?

Now some of you may scoff at this suggestion, but I truly believe that we could set a new paradigm if we all just decided as a collective that we are sick of the gloom.

If we choose not to buy into it anymore.

If we choose not to whinge and complain and take pleasure in proving how much more difficult and challenging our life can be compared to everyone else.

If we choose to react and respond to the challenges we face with an uplifted, can do, “I will just give it my best shot” disposition.

Now of course, I am not suggesting that we live in some Utopian Bubble that ignores life’s challenges, but I certainly believe there is a huge margin between where we are now and this Utopian Dream. There is room for us to shake off this predisposition for negativity and come at life’s challenges with a new attitude.

A positive and cheery disposition.

Like the old saying goes: ” If life gives you lemons, then make lemonade”.

So today I am throwing out a challenge to make JOY the new black.

And I shall be joining you in this quest, which really just amounts to being vigilant with the thoughts and attitudes with which you approach your day.

When did it become the norm to look forlornly down at the floor, as you go to work?

When did it become the norm to complain about how much you have to do all the time?

When did it become the norm to constantly complain about your work and be miserable?

When did it become the norm to revel in this unhappiness and business and craziness of a life we have imposed upon ourselves?

When you think about it – it is CRAZY.

I mean who would choose misery over joy? It just does not make any sense.

So – let’s set a new paradigm and choose JOY!

Joy for your job.

Joy for all you can achieve at your workplace and the opportunities it affords you.

Joy for your family and friends and all they bring to your life.

Joy for the challenges along the way and what they teach you.

Joy for the trip to work each day that allows you to enjoy the scenery on the train, or chat to people as you buy your morning coffee, or take your children to school where they are able to get a wonderful education, or lie in bed and enjoy a day off, or have some alone time on your morning walk.

Let’s make JOY for life and all it has to offer the new black.

Let’s make JOY for the opportunities life provides us with the new black.

Let’s make a cheery greeting or a warm smile as we travel to work the new black.

You may be asking why?

And all I can say to that is ” why not?”.

I hereby decree:  LET JOY BE THE NEW BLACK

#DiscoverYou, #LoveYou, #BeYou

Christine