Gratefulness is greater than grumbling and grumpiness. Yesterday I was in the uncomfortable situation of a long day of standing and waiting and all I wanted to do was to grumble and complain. (That’s why I didn’t post on yesterday’s Wake-Up Call.)

Suddenly I was reminded of a series of five affirmations I used to say a lot. It came to me that I should silently repeat those affirmations in my mind as I waited but do it differently than I used to. This time I felt prompted to say the last word of each affirmation three times, with more intensity, hope, and passion each time.

I began to silently say to myself:

* “I am peaceful, PEACEFUL, SO PEACEFUL!”
* “I am content, CONTENT, SO CONTENT!”
* “I am thankful, THANKFUL, SO THANKFUL!”
* “I am healthy, HEALTHY, SO HEALTHY!”
* “I am extremely happy, EXTREMELY HAPPY, SO EXTREMELY HAPPY!”

I noticed that as I increased the intensity and passion of each statement I subconsciously began to ever so slightly smile. I kept this up for quite a while and my smile gradually began to grow and grow. Eventually a few people started a conversation with me, and we had a delightful time together. We forgot all about our long wait. The bitter water of a long day’s wait became a sweet time with new friends.

If you get grumpy
And begin to grumble
Your mind will tumble
Like a clothes dryer
And constantly jumble
Your thoughts.

People who grumble
Inwardly stumble
And their thoughts crumble
Into discouragement.

Some thoughts may be
Unnoticed notifications
Directing you
To a better life.
Some feelings
May be too.
Pull them up
Like messages
On your phone.
Scroll and see
What they have to say.
Accept and follow
What they bring
To heal your heart
And improve your life.
Delete and block
Any inner spam
That distracts you
From hope, joy, and peace.

Notifications
Are the thoughts
That lift you up.
Accusations
Are the thoughts
That pull you down.
Make observations
Of the thoughts
That come to your mind
And carefully choose
The very best ones.

Love means caring about people’s wellbeing. It has nothing to do with whether or not you agree with their beliefs or behaviors. Give million-dollar smiles and show people that you care about them.