I don’t enjoy waking up. I shift from sleeping to wakefulness, try to move my body and remember that I can’t. Sadness. I wait until someone comes to get me out of bed. My legs spasm. Pain. I think about what I hope to do today. That helps. I have things to do, people to see. But still…
Then I remember to choose joy. It’s not that I push away the pain and sadness. They are still there and I carry them into my day. I make space around them, though, and shine the light of joy into them. Illuminated by that choice, I feel lightness and energy. Sadness becomes tenderness. Pain is less burdensome.
Throughout my day, I redirect my thinking towards joy. Breathe it in. Try a smile. Those simple moves transform the moment. That simple habit transforms a life.