For my smokin' hot ass...

November being the thankful month that it is, I have noticed people taking a more positive outlook on life. The cynic in me thinks that they have not started their holiday shopping yet, but whatever.

Anyway, while this is a bit corny, I do appreciate the sentiment of it. Everyone has a card or two in their hand of life that they would like to toss or trade. Everyone thinks someone has it better than they do. Everyone KNOWS that someone has it worse than them. Long story short? Everyone has their own shit to deal with.

How you are prepared in life can shape how you deal with these things. Are you financially secure? Ok, good. That surprise $600 car repair is more annoying than anything. Paycheck to paycheck? That bill can constitute a full blown FML situation.

How are you mentally prepared? Do you think you are strong and able to ride the waves of life? Great. That doctors diagnosis of whatever is scary, but treatable. Prone to panic attacks and fits of hysteria? You are now disease ridden and probably going to die.

I have had some intense curve balls pitched to me in life, thus the birth of My View From The Bell Tower. Those events changed me forever, in good ways and some not so great ways. I own the fact that I am now totally cynical. People used to ask me how I got through it and mostly I would just say that it was a day to day process. Those closer to me know that I developed a little life mantra and it's pretty simple. ::this is the good change::

I choose to be happy. Told you it was simple.

I choose to celebrate the blessings I have in my life instead of wallowing in the hurt.

Don't get me wrong, I have grieved and cried. That's part of healing and moving on. In that, however, I have learned that there are issues in life that really don't require me to flip the fuck out. That saying of "don't sweat the small stuff" is appropriate here.

I hate wasting time feeling sad and depressed. Imagine the world ends tomorrow because a huge meteor slammed into Earth. Dontcha think you would be kicking yourself all the way to Heaven (Hell, whatever...) that you spent your last day on Earth curled up in bed crying because you had a fight with your husband? Or mad at so-and-so for losing your favorite necklace? Or saying "Poor Me!" for not getting that promotion?

I don't have time for that. I'm too busy living and being happy. If I have learned anything in the past two years, it's that life is too short. I consider it Mom's last lesson to me, and I get it. I really, really get it.

So, in the essence of being happy and knowing it could always get worse, here are a few things I am thankful for right now.

1. Having had the most amazing mother ever created, for however short a time it was.

2. My amazing husband.

3. My family that knows me and loves me, just for me. My father and sister being close and

my brother stationed somewhere safe.

4. Roof over my head, food in my belly, clothes on my back, good health, and a tomorrow to

look forward to.

5. Good friends and a glass of wine.

So, what's your happy place? What's your bright spot in the day that gets you through? What's your standby "I'm thankful for..." And now, think of a new one.

I'm thankful for the great pair of jeans I bought that earned me the comment of "She has a smokin' hot ass" from a college kid.

Oh so very thankful.