Summer is coming

"Many people seem to think it foolish, even superstitious, to believe that the world could still change for the better. And it is true that in winter it is sometimes so bitingly cold that one is tempted to say, 'What do I care if there is a summer; its warmth is no help to me now.' Yes, evil often seems to surpass good. But then, in spite of us, and without our permission, there comes at last an end to the bitter frosts. One morning the wind turns, and there is a thaw. And so I must still have hope."  Vincent Van Gogh

When you read the troubled history of someone like Van Gogh and then you read such words of encouragement and optimism, it serves as a stark reminder of the highs and lows we all face in life. What permutation of life came when Vincent penned those words? How many dark nights had he endured before a few calming rays of sunshine warmed him from the cold of a long winter?

I have often been criticized for my unapologetic optimism. Even when life has dealt to me from the bottom of the deck, I have always believed there is a better life ahead of me. I tire of those who claim I am not a realist, that I look at the world through rose-colored glasses. Maybe so, but I am  happier for it.

May has already been a dark, cold winter in my life. A week ago I thought I would buckle under the load. There are still miles for me to run in this current marathon I have started. There are projects to finish, foolish people to deal with, places I must go and challenges that must be faced. In every marathon there is a point where runners ask themselves, "Is it worth it," or "do I have the strength to finish?" Some drop out and others press on to the finish line.

Like Van Gogh, I know that summer is coming. The winter of my discontent will fade under the unrelenting warmth of the summer sun. If  the forecast for your life is dark and rainy, do not despair, sunshine is on its way.

Are you sad?

O.K. so the Christmas lights are down, the days are shorter, the waistline a little bit wider and some people have gone into Seasonanal Affective Disorder (SAD). It seems like every year the mental health community has some new phobia they want to impose on society. I quit trying to keep up with all the acronyms a long time ago. ADD, then ADHD, OCD, SAD and then there is always good old fashion clinical depression.

I mean no offense to reputable professionals who treat people who are struggling, but the world of mental health is a multi-billion dollar industry and the truth of the matter is that I don't need another pill to dull my senses, or make me happy (some of you already think my senses are dull enough).

When it comes to the world of pychosis' I tend to be old school - get a grip and get on with your life. While there are certainly plenty of legitimate diagnosis of physical and mental disorders, there are also a lot of people looking for excuses to feel bad. Its rained the last three days so I feel moody, my boss barked at me in a management meeting so I have the right to take it out on my kids.

Back to my prescription for happiness - take control of your own life! Get a grip! Stop blaming and start taking responsibility. I believe Abraham Lincoln was rigtht, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."