Happiness is a choice. A conscience decision we make, no matter what the circumstances, to be happy.

Impossible you say? Obviously it may seem impossible every single minute of every single day. The sad fact is, "the negatives" in our lives (and our pasts) have a way of creeping into our minds and stealing our happiness.

I find myself mired in "the negative" all too often. Something bad happens or an old memory creeps in and it is just too easy to slip right into "the negative." Shit happens....don't have enough money to pay the bills, a kid is struggling in school, or worse, in life...the cat is sick and the vet bills are astronomical, someone you love's health is failing, the stupid policeman wrote a ticket right before the holidays, the car won't start.

For me, this week, it was a fire. Not at my house but at the manager's house at the apartments. Somehow the gas shut-off valve to the dryer "opened" and gas filled the laundry room. The dryer was running and it sparked an explosion that blew out the window and caught the room on fire.

Curses.

For two weeks I have been dealing with the expense of plumbers and inspectors and materials and the back breaking work of replacing windows, trim and siding, repairing sheetrock, cleaning every square inch of a room covered in soot, Kilzing it all and paint.

All right before the holidays.

Specifically a holiday for which we "give thanks."

This is one of those times when I had to dig deep to find my happiness.

So the first thing I did was look for SOMETHING to be grateful for...because the truth is, the best way to find happiness is focus of the positive...the things in your life you can be grateful for!

First, I am grateful that the dryer was running, otherwise the house could have filled with gas and killed the occupants. Had the door not been closed the smoke and fire could have spread to the rest of the house and created a MUCH bigger mess.

I am grateful that my plumber was willing to move heaven and earth to get everything tested and inspected quickly.

I am grateful it is fairly warm out and we didn't end up with frozen and busted water lines.

And as always, i am grateful I have the ability to do the work that needs to be done to restore order.

Positives. Gratitude. Happiness.

A choice I make to focus on the positive, the things for which I can be grateful, rather than focusing on the negatives that are inevitable.

How ironic that we only set aside one specific day a year to "give thanks."

So this Thanksgiving, focus on the things in your life for which you can be grateful...and vow to carry that gratitude with you every single day. When the negative creeps in and grips your heart and soul find something positive to grasp ahold of and focus on it....it won't be easy and sometimes it will seem down right impossible.

But it is a choice...a conscience choice you make...to either be happy or be unhappy.

It really is that simple.

Have a grateful and happy Thanksgiving!