Learning to look on the bright side of life…

There are many times when I can always find laughter and look on the bright side of life (whistle)… Take the time I started a blog, wrote 4 articles never to return ;-). My husband believes I have reliability issues, I believe I just go where the breeze takes me.

I always look on the bright side of misbehaving kids – encourage it in fact; spilt milk – pretty easy to clean up; dinted car – it’s just an object; child spills ice-cream down my top – you little a-hole, don’t mess with my wardrobe… *laughs, but isn’t joking*

But more than that, I love life. I love to laugh, dance and sing. Watch the sunset, roll in the grass, have an adventure, I really am up for anything!

So you’d say this sounds like someone who is easy going, a glass half-full type of gal, right?

Wrong! That would be oh so wrong.

Yeah there are many glass half full moments in my life, but there are also plenty of ‘glass fucking empty’ moments.

I’m not sure if I had these moments before kids, I know I have always had a temper. I know I have always been hard on myself. I know I have always felt a lot of guilt, but I guess back then it didn’t matter as much. And I always had my glass half full version to make me feel better. But when you have small kids frequently holding up a metaphoric mirror, it really makes you self-reflect. And when the little midgets begin emulating those less favourable behaviours – you book yourself a therapy appointment quick smart!

So my kids have forced me to look inward, and question myself in ways I never thought possible. And what have I learnt about my ‘Glass fucking empty’ version…

She cannot forgive
I do not, or maybe will not forgive myself. I am my own worst enemy. When I fail, stuff up or make a fool of myself (generally at the hand of 2 bottles of champs) I beat myself up.

I make it my life mission to not hold grudges on others (apart from on my husband, he is still paying penance for a sin he committed 6 years ago), yet I don’t give myself the same compassion.

She is a perfectionist

Things not done to 110%, t’s not crossed, I’s missing dots, and you might as well kill me.

And although perfectionism is great in some instances, I mean, I can plan the shit out of a kid’s birthday party, it can fester up some pretty dark thoughts when all your ducks aren’t in a row. Take my dishwasher for instance, if Brent doesn’t stack that son of bitch within an inch of its life, I’m signing the divorce papers…

She is not flexible

There are many studies out there that link happiness (bright side of life) to flexibility; the ability to be open and willing to change. Inflexible people always need to be right and inflexibility is defined as; of a rigid or unyielding temper, purpose, will, etc.; immovable.

They should just put my picture in the urban dictionary and empty my glass a little more.

To add insult to injury the ‘glass fucking empty’ version of yourself is generally amplified in tough times. So throw in a couple of small kids, a couple of miscarriages, a couple of bouts of post-natal, a hard working (aka never home) husband and the glass has now left the building and is down the street purchasing a few bottles of wine 😉

At the end of this story I would love to say I have found how to forgive, have less perfection and more flexibility, but I am currently paying off my shrinks children’s private school fees to find the answers… When I’ve found them I’ll be sure to pass them on, but for now enjoy the lyrics to Monty Pythons ‘Bright Side of Life’.

Cheers, love and survival,

Stace

xx

Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse
When you’re chewing on life’s gristle
Don’t grumble, give a whistle
And this’ll help things turn out for the best…
And…

…always look on the bright side
of life…
(Whistle)

Always look on the light side
of life…
(Whistle)

If life seems jolly rotten
There’s something you’ve forgotten
And that’s to laugh and smile and dance and sing
When you’re feeling in the dumps
Don’t be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle
– that’s the thing.
And…always look on the bright
side of life…
(Whistle)

Come on.

Always look on the right side
of life…
(Whistle)

For life is quite absurd
And death’s the final word
You must always face the curtain
with a bow
Forget about your sin – give the
audience a grin
Enjoy it – it’s your last chance
anyhow.

So always look on the bright side
of death…
(Whistle)

And -Just before you draw your terminal breath…
(Whistle)

Life’s a piece of shit, when you look at it
Life’s a laugh and death’s a joke, it’s true
You’ll see its all a show, keep ’em laughin as you go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you

And…
Always look on the bright side
of life…
(Whistle)

Always look on the right side
of life…

C’mon Brian, cheer up

Always look on the bright side
of life…

Always look on the bright side
of life…

Worse things happen at sea you know.

I mean – what have you got to lose?
You know, you come from nothing
– you’re going back to nothing.
What have you lost? Nothing.

Always look on the right side
(I mean) of life…

What have you got to lose?
You know, you come from nothing
– you’re going back to nothing.
What have you lost?

Always (Nothing.) look on the right side of life…

Nothing will come from nothing ya know what they say?
Cheer up ya old bugga c’mon give us a grin!
There ya go, see!

Always look on the right side of life…
(Cheer up ya old bugga c’mon give us a grin! At same time)

There ya go, see!