Sometimes people say to me, “Catherine, are you really so happy ALL the time?” The answer is no. Not always.
Take last night, when I arrived back at the train station carpark to find that someone had left me a little present.
No note, no contact details, just the damage.
For me, a costly insurance deductible to pay; for them, probably guilt and fear, and having to carry the weight of doing something wrong. It wasn’t good for either of us…the person who got away or the one left holding the problem.
But here’s the thing. When bad stuff happens to us, we have a choice. Mine is always this:
My Canadian sister visited me in November, and she says it another way. I love her image, too:
I’m going to drop
that bag of rocks.
Because why carry it?
Why spend time watering and carrying something that won’t respond to your energy? The car door is damaged. The relationship is over. The deal didn’t go through.
Flip the bad into good. Here’s how I do it: years ago, I decided that when bad things happen to me, I will respond by pouring some good into the world. It doesn’t have to be equal in value or size. (My car door gets wrecked; I bake a surprise cake for my neighbour.) Replacing the bad with some good — with something I have control over — always makes me feel better. It’s become my Go-To response to trouble and bad news.
Whatever disappointment you’re facing, small like my car or big and scary, maybe try putting some good back into the world. You’ll drop the rocks, travel lighter, and feel a little better.
Right? Right.
So today I’ve been thinking about this: the tree’s up and it’s three weeks until we get to celebrate with the people we love!
Enjoy your weekend, everyone. There’s so much to appreciate in December!
Love Catherine x
PS.
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If you’re in Sydney, I hope you visit the Queen Victoria Building’s crystal tree (above) — three storeys high and so pretty!
And here’s a wintry sunset from my sister in Saskatchewan, Canada. Isn’t it gorgeous?
