Attitude is EVERYTHING

If Self-Pity were a train, I have been hanging out at the station. If it were a concert, I have been listening to it's opening acts. If it were a sporting event, I have been tailgating out front. If it were a main course, I have been dining on the appetizer. If it were a guy, I've given it my number and we've been text messaging. 

I have been one step away from throwing myself the biggest pity party you've ever seen. I've been close. So close. I have the decorations and everything. There is a banner sitting in my living room right now that says "Congratulations, Shannon! Your Life Sucks Right Now!" (It's a long banner).

When I let myself, I can think of a lot of reasons to fall down the self-indulgent, slippery slope of self-pity. It's not that hard. Anyone can do it, really. You can do it too, if you let yourself.

This morning, though, I stepped away from the station. I left the concert, skipped the game, declined the main course, and blocked the guy's number. What brought about the sudden about face? I heard a news clip of Michael J. Fox talking about being a positive, optimistic person. 

That's it. A fifteen second sound bite from Michael J. Fox. Not the most Earth shattering event, I know. But, after I bounced the sound clip through my brain for a second or two, I thought, "You know, Michael J. Fox? You are right." 

He has a completely legitimate reason to ride the self-pity train. He has a disease that totally threw him off his life track and continues to progress and get worse every day. But, as he explained in the clip, he didn't choose the disease and he can't control it. He can, however, control how if affects him. He can control the activities he chooses to do each day, the people he surrounds himself with, whether to be happy or sad, whether to enjoy the moment or wallow in it. 

It made me feel silly. My problems, though seemingly big at this point in my life, are temporary. I have been making all of the wrong choices. Choices to be sad, to be upset, to focus on the negative. Well, now that I think about it, those were really crappy choices.

I've been so focused on things that aren't going perfectly right now that I've forgotten a few things. I am healthy, for example. That's good. (check). I have a great family that is endlessly supportive (check). I have wonderful friends who give me a kick in the rear when I need it (check). Thanks to CrossFit, I am well on my way to being in the best shape of my life (check). I have a kick-ass pair of purple high heels that just arrived (check). The guy at Jiffy Lube gave me my tire rotation for free (check). 

See? Things aren't so bad! I just need to keep keeping on and not let myself be negative. Pity City may be the easier destination to get to, but it's so much harder to leave.

Now, I know what you are thinking: "But Shannon! You spent all that time making your pity party banner for nothing!!"

Well, Negative Nancy's, to you I say "Au Contraire!" It wasn't for nothing. I have a very appropriate, necessary and immediate use for it. I needed a new liner for the kitty litter box.