Which direction do you choose?

Positive and negative are directions.

And we always have the option to chose one.

Once we chose a direction in our lives, it becomes an habit.

Walking on the chosen road, weather is negative or positive, becomes a way of life.

I have been walking on the positive road since so long, I can't even remember when I started going this way. I'm almost sure that I did it as a way to neutralize the negativism that I was surrounded by when I was a little girl.

This is a little story to illustrate how it works:

I once had to take a bus from Havana to Holguin (in Cuba) it was a long ride, over 12 hours and the heat was unbearable. As soon as I was in the bus I realized that we had air conditioning. Yay!! I was sooo happy, very unusual in Cuba. I thought: this trip is going to be heaven with this air conditioning.

After an hour or so the air conditioning stopped working. The driver said that he was sorry. I immediately thought: Yay!! that's kind of wonderful because air conditioning normally makes me sick.

My then boyfriend was mad at me because he thought that I was crazy. How could I be happy about the broken air conditioning? He was grumpy all the way to one of the provinces. Then, someone was able to make the air conditioning system work again and I went: Yay!! We're so lucky! Heaven is back! My boyfriend was even more mad, he said that I had a lose screw or something like that.

The end of the story is that I had a great trip with and without air conditioning and my boyfriend had a bad one. The circumstances were exactly the same for both of us, the only difference was our state of mind.

I could tell you so many other stories, similar to this one! The thing is that being positive is an art, you need to be creative to find the positive in the negative. If you set up your mind on the positive mode, you will have a much better time going through this amazing and bumpy ride called life :)

Comments

[Mary]

Elsa, you are such a gift to everyone around you and all of us who read your blog. It can be so hard to be positive sometimes, especially when it seems that everything in life is not going in the direction you'd like it to. But you are right that you really can find a way to be positive about almost anything if you try hard enough. It's like a little trick that makes life so much more enjoyable. Thanks for sharing your story:)

[Lois Collins]

Yaaaaay! What a great example of being positive Elsita, I love it! Your blog always inspires me and makes me feel more positive!! Big hugs, xxx

[Marianne Wille]

I love this post.
My husband tells me that his life is better when I'm positive. My positivity helps him cope with the little bumps in the road that he is prone to focus on. I might have a lose screw too but everyone around me is glad for it. Loving you!

[parisa]

thank you.
xo p

[Into Vintage]

Love this. I have someone in my life who reminds me of your boyfriend -- you put it perfectly when you said "The circumstances were exactly the same for both of us, the only difference was our state of mind." :-)

[Veronika / Lalomino]

I love this post too.
I want to be like that so much! And you know what? I think I will try! A few more stories like this might help me along the way though :)
xx

[Elizabeth]

What a wonderful post to start my day with. Thanks Elsita.

[margie oomen]

so very true
we have so little control over our external environment but we can control our mind ( at least most of the time)
THere are times when you can't see the positive or negative and you just have to set your journey upwards to get above the clouds and get a better view.

[bethany]

I think I will share this story with my children and we will practice taking the positive road over our Thanksgiving vacation! My mother was (is) the opposite and it is so draining to be around negativity all the time! Now I know why I love reading your blog so much (besides the fact that you are one of the most creative people I know!). Have a wonderful day Elsita!!!!

[Ana]

Sí, la eleccion esta entre elegir disfrutar de la vida aunque encontremos inconvenientes o elegir quejarse de todo y no ser feliz. Yo tengo claro cual es mi eleccion.

Me ha encantado el recorrido por tu estudio.

Un beso

[emdot]

I agree! I've also been called a nutcase for seeing the positive and that can sometimes trick me into thinking maybe I'm the crazy one. Thanks for the reminder that no, I'm not crazy, I'm just choosing my attitude. :)

[Maiz]

You are amazing! Seriously, I think that I have a big positive attitude, but being happy about a 12 hour bus ride in Cuba without AC?! I think that you must be the world's best traveling companion!

You are so right, my friend! Thank you for this positive inspiration.

[emce-art]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful story!

[Mo]

positivity - beacon like in the world. shine on lady friend, you are a star. I love your work too by the way, amazing and beautiful. My moleskines do not look like that! I will be back to investigate further you are inspirational.

[Unlikely Nomad]

Hi Elsa,
We are So on the same track, My kids were admiring your blog yesterday, especially the dollhouse, they were ENCHANTED...made me want to make a miniature advent calendar, as that is what we are thinking of right now...and they said to me...who is it? I said I wished you were my friend!

Anyway re being positive, and state of mind I have just picked up, and cannot put down a book called "Loving What Is", by Katie Byron, and I have been reading and rereading it for about a month.

It takes the "Power of Now" by Ekhart Tolle a step further and deeper into a much more personal experience of loving what IS. I, as someone who was controlled and has spent much of my life trying to control what is happening around me, am absolutely mesmerized by this idea - Byron's main idea is that EVERYTHING in our lives is a mental construct subconsciously linked to our belief system, which can cause us stress or not depending on our outlook. Oversimplified of course. I wonder if you have read it? I would highly recommend it, if not and if this is your road.

I really love your thoughtfulness and your constant striving for spiritual peace. Thank you for sharing!

[Elsita]

Thanks a lot Unlikely Nomad for the recommendation!
I'm going to order "Loving What Is", it really sounds like a great book :)

[Jimmy]

Love your story. Easy for artist like us, not easy for the rest of the world, to be happy and positive.

[Heather Foust]

Oh you are so right! It is so much more easier to be postive then negative. I don't think that was the case for me when I was younger. I don't even think I realized I was being negative. But that has changed for me. I choose happieness!

[Nahuatl Vargas]

You are so right, I have so much to learn.

[Unlikely Nomad]

Hi Elsa!
Let me know what you think, it all makes so much sense to me -I am starting to talk to my kids about it... I would love to hear your thoughts... Nomad

[Elsita :)]

I will let you know Unlikely Nomad!
The book should arrive soon, I can't wait!
Elsita :)

[Katherine]

Is that your artwork for this post? You should put a print in your etsy shop. :)

[Veronika / Lalomino]

Hi Elsita,
I've blogged about you today :)
Veronika

[Lesleigh]

This is a wonderful post, Elsita and one very much in line with my thinking of late. You are absolutely right in stating that our perspective is a choice. I have been actively trying to shift my own inclination toward negative and resistant thinking toward one that is more humane, gracious, and forgiving. I regard your words as a gift and will refer back to them often. Many thanks,

Lesleigh

[SANCHEZ]

I HAVE LOOSED ALL MY PHOTOGRAPHIES, yesterday. We say in french "c'est la merde, c'est la merde". But I chose positive direction in this negative event. This loss will be a "barrier reached". Sorry for my english. If one other people after ma understand my english, he or she must have a Nobel... This words, since I find funny and "comforting" Miss Mora you travels this same reflexion. A kind of wink. thank you for the anecdote and the metaphor. Marina

[amy sperry faldet]

Dear one. I live this way and it is always the same, some marvel at my "silver lining" outlook, some are angered by it for they can not seem to choose it. They are canceling out there moments here with a mean stamp. Mean as in having very little and mean as in hurting themselves. I am blessed to have read this today after delivering food to my sad friend. Thanks. Blessings and light, Amy

[Mandy Saile of Bijou's Whimsy]

Elsita your so wise and I LOVE and admire your positive look at everything....I was feeling a tad grumpy today...I am so glad I hopped into your blog for a visit:D Your just so lovely.

[hollister clothing]

the first was crying because you're not, the second laughing because meet you, third smiling tears because can't have you.

[abercrombie milano]

It's one I'll remember. It's so inspiring and gives me a new perspective on challenges in life. I will especially remember this line, "As long as I wake up to a new day every morning, no matter what the circumstances are, I am always sure that everything will be alright." Thank you for being so willing to share.