Choose Happy – Some Thoughts

If you’re new here you may or may not know that I have this series called an Australian Creatives Series. It is basically a place where I interview rad people so I can steal their thoughts.

This week’s victim is Rin from Papered Thoughts, her interview inspired me so much. To basically say you can consciously choose to be happy* is a seriously powerful piece of advice. Rin is so wise beyond her years.

Interviewing her was a beautiful little reminder to stop and smile like a fat goose a few times a day.

I’m not particularly gloomy or deprezzo but little children can really take it out of you. Every time you try to make the bed, someone is jumping on it and pulling the doona back off. Every time you empty the wash basket, it is full again. But when I chose to be happy about these things they became different, making the bed became a fun game to tug-o-war. Even though it was still seriously annoying, I had a laugh too.

At the end of the day, the dirty washing is not going to disappear because I would rather stab myself in the eyeball than do it; so I may as well roll my sleeves up, put the bub in the Jolly Jumper and enjoy the sun – and I should probs also do some squats while I’m out there (exercise is a proven happiness boost.)

More importantly, though, it’s a great lesson to teach a child. So thank you Rin, because just like the lucky kids you teach, you are also impacting my daughter’s life and she doesn’t even know what washi tape is yet. (Kidding, she is my daughter, she has her own collection.)

When she is whining, when she doesn’t want to pack away her toys or when she is moping because she wants to watch TV but I said no – I remind her that this is the way things are and she can choose to be happy or she can choose to be sad.

Maybe she doesn’t get what I mean just yet, but I just want to instil in her that the way she feels in life will often be less about her situation and more about her attitude.

*I’m not in any way suggesting that depression can be changed by simply deciding to be happy – this is simply about snapping yourself out of a crappy mood.