Can You Be Struck By Lightning Twice?

The other day a friend and I were having a conversation about choosing to be happy. She thought about a friend of hers, who really has a hard life, beyond what any of us can imagine. But yet, this friend is always smiling, upbeat, happy. She makes a choice to be happy.

Today, when I woke up later than I wanted to, had to fight with my 7 year old about getting up (my name is now Meanie Mommy), and barely had time to wash my hair (it needed it in that cancel a date because I need to wash my hair way), I chose to be happy. When my windshield wipers wouldn't shut off, I thought: well, as annoying as this is, it's better to have ones that won't shut off than ones that won't come on. When I was stuck in traffic for 20 minutes for unknown reasons, I turned up the radio and had a dance party (the guy in the Audi next to me laughed). When I got to work and didn't even know where to start, I thought well at least I will be busy. When I realized I forgot my lunch, I remembered I had a can of soup in my desk. Happy. Happy. Joy. Joy.

When my bosses asked me to come into a conference room and told me my job was being eliminated along with 35 others, I smiled and said this must be hard for you. I could tell there was something going on all morning. The higher level boss said: I fought so hard to get you on board full time, I didn't want this. Your performance was superior, I am so sorry. My direct boss looked like she may be sick. I felt bad for them. I had to sit through this once, they had to do it 35 times. I know they didn't see it coming either (not to be a HR professional here, but had they seen it coming, they'd have never converted me to their payroll. I am now a liability on their unemployment costs).

Somehow over the course of 6 months, I managed to have enough stuff in my office to fill 3 boxes. I loaded my car in 2 trips. I smiled the entire time. I said hi to people in the hallway, congratulated one person on their recent wedding, wished people good luck. The wipers wiped the entire way home, the sun was shining.

I chose to be happy. I've been through this before, not even 2 years ago. I didn't see it coming this time, but I was far more prepared. I hated my long commute and I did leave my lunch at home. I wasn't much in the mood for soup anyway.