Choosing Light in Every Moment

 

In a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming, positivity becomes a superpower. It’s not about ignoring challenges or pretending that life is always perfect. Instead, it’s about choosing to focus on the good, finding strength in the small victories, and embracing hope even during difficult times.

Positivity isn’t just an abstract concept; it’s a practice. 

How to Cultivate Positivity

1. Practice Gratitude Daily

Take a few moments each day to reflect on the things you’re grateful for. Gratitude shifts your focus from what’s missing to what’s abundant in your life.

2. Surround Yourself with Uplifting People

The people you spend time with have a huge impact on your mindset. Seek out those who inspire and encourage you, and distance yourself from negativity when possible.

3. Find Joy in Small Moments

A warm cup of coffee, a kind smile, or the beauty of a sunset—positivity thrives when we appreciate life’s simple pleasures.

4. Reframe Negative Thoughts

When you catch yourself thinking negatively, pause and reframe the thought. Instead of “I can’t do this,” try, “This is challenging, but I can find a way through.”

5. Take Care of Yourself

Physical and mental health are deeply connected to positivity. Exercise, eat well, get enough rest, and take time for activities that bring you joy.

6. Spread Kindness

A small act of kindness can brighten someone’s day and bring you a sense of fulfillment. Positivity grows when shared.

Choosing Positivity Daily

Life is unpredictable, and not every day will be easy. But positivity is a choice you can make each morning when you wake up. It’s a decision to face life’s challenges with courage, to focus on solutions rather than problems, and to trust that even the darkest night will lead to a brighter dawn.

By cultivating positivity, you not only transform your own life—you create a ripple effect that touches everyone around you. So, take a deep breath, smile, and choose light in every moment. The world becomes a better place when you do.

A pocketful of sunshine and 

Facebook... Oh Facebook...

It was so much fun at first. Imagine, being reconnected with people you have not seen for decades! Suddenly, everyone's in one place and they are just a click away.

I blogged less and FB'd more... Heck, I got hooked and spent more time in there than necessary. I played addicting games and interacted with long-lost friends. I "liked" almost all posts that appeared on my News Feed and left comments where I agreed most. I appreciated that I didn't get to miss any of my friends' birthdays.

Never mind if there were sarcastic posts or comments... They seemed funny at that time...

Until one day, I realized that those biting posts were meant for other friends... probably in retaliation for something that happened between them or, simply, to just get nasty. The "likes" became some sort of a loyalty check- "hey, whose side are you on?"

People started forcing their own opinions down their friends' throats. R-E-S-P-E-C-T became a thing of the past. Instead of cheerful exchanges, you now see long threads of debates and arguments that are not even close to being friendly.

It was in Facebook where I got embroiled in my so-called-friends' histrionics and hysterics. People openly aired their dirty laundry... For sympathy? For "Likes"? For goading? For the "Rah! Rah! Rah! Sis Boom Bah!" cheers? You tell me!  I guess there are some people who really get a kick out of it and enjoy the attention.

Gone were the days when my News Feed fed me uplifting, funny and positive posts to start my day right. Rants, protests, opinionated/ judgmental elucidations, bashing, bullying... ahhhh, too many of them now. I must admit I myself succumbed to the temptation (of posting my negative thoughts and opinions) a number of times in the past.

And so... one day, I decided to deactivate, thus, disconnecting myself from more than 500 "friends" and a big number (I lost count) of friends requests (those I decided to ignore).

However, I am not saying I am rejecting Facebook altogether. This time though, I already know the people who matter most to me and with whom I truly want to stay connected with.

I never felt better! ;)

Now, the sun shines on...

Blessings to all of you!

Image credit: Lauren Huston

You Can Do Magic

You can do magic

You can have anything that you desire

Magic, and you know 

You're the one who can put out the fire

You know darn well when you cast your spell

You will get your way

When you hypnotize with your eyes

A heart of stone can turn to clay

Doo doo doo doo doo doo...

~You Can Do Magic by America~

This song sends me out in an upbeat, positive mood every morning. It is one of the songs that I listen to on my way to the office and it never fails to uplift my spirit. I hope it casts the same spell on you.

Happy Monday!

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.


PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

---

Life's Little Pleasures

Life's magic is everywhere...
You just have to open your eyes a little wider
And take a closer look at the world around you.
Don't worry about where you have been.
Watch your future unfold
Filled with dreams of where you are going.
-Deanna Beisser-

As we were about to sleep one evening, 13-year-0ld Jazzy said "thank you, Ma." I asked what she was thanking me for. She replied: "For all the lessons you have taught us."

She then proceeded to tell me: "It used to break our hearts to see you crying every night. In fact, every night I prayed to God to please make you happy again. After that, I would thank Him endlessly on those evenings that I didn't see you cry. Isn't it that you taught us to be grateful for little things? But when you finally stopped crying, that was the best gift He gave to us and we couldn't thank Him enough."

10-year-old Jamie agreed and said: "That's true Mommy. We also cried whenever we saw you crying. But now we are happy because you are happy."

Jazmine added: "See, you taught us to be positive all the time... even on those times when there was no reason at all to be happy about."

I remember that dark period so well. It was then when I thought my family would never see the colors around us again. Everything was pitch black. There was total darkness. In fact, my kids' tears would flow every night as I forced them to recall what they had to be thankful for at the end of the day. I felt their pain because, like them, it was also impossible for me to see or think beyond my grief.

As our gratitude list started getting longer, we began to smile again.

Now these kids say "thank you" for the littlest favor, gesture or gift. A movie that made them feel good, a dinner treat at McDonald's (they know I already hate going there), a walk in the mall, a surprise shopping treat and other little pleasant surprises -- I always get a big hug and a "thank you."

But to be thanked for the lessons in life that they have learned from me... that is the best compliment I have ever received!


Blessings to all ,

Positive Day in the Blogging World

While I was blog surfing one night, I came across a beautiful badge at Mike's site, Rambling Stuff AKA Golch Central.

Curious about it, I tried to learn more and found myself at Jennifer's site, Dust Bunny Hostage, where she explained how her little Diva Daughter, 12 years of age, dreams of declaring a Positive Day when she becomes President in 2032. One commenter suggested that instead of waiting for 2032, Diva Daughter should pick a date now for all of the Bloggosphere to celebrate. In her blog, Jennifer wrote:

On July 31, 2009, I would be humbled and blessed if you would participate in the day envisioned by Diva Daughter. It would be an opportunity to show that young people do indeed have a voice and that they can make a difference... Then on July 31, share the things in your life that are positive. Count your blessings. Tell us why you are thankful. CHOOSE to "accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative."

I thought this was awesome so here I am participating in this momentous event... the Bloggosphere's Positive Day!

July has really been a turbulent month for me. For weeks, I was a nervous wreck and total darkness covered me again. It was one of the hardest struggles I had to hurdle. It's been so long since the last time I have been in a very dark place.

Ending the month on a positive note is indeed the best way to cope. I need to remind myself that my blessings far outweigh and outnumber the setbacks I have encountered.


1. In my post "Let Light Shine Out of Darkness...", I wrote about the wonders of gratitude at a time when you can't see anything but darkness. My heart is filled with joy now at the thought of my 3 children who have shown me what it is like to love, hope and trust again.

"We have learned to count our blessings. At first, it was just the beautiful yellow butterfly... the food on our table... until we were able to see the greater blessings again. Each day was a miracle in itself.

And when my youngest daughter led a prayer before our meal one night by saying: "Thank you Lord for not allowing Mommy to go out with Daddy that evening... Thank you for letting her stay with us..." and the two gave a resounding "AMEN", I was dumbfounded. I couldn't help but smile and think that I must have done something right to deserve these three amazing children.

Ours is a story of hope and faith. Everything happens for a reason. You just have to trust that things always get better. After all, being happy (again) is a matter of choice."

2. In my post "Sunshine In My Heart", no setback is ever too daunting. I counted the most important people who make my life worth living everyday.

"Each morning, I wake up to the sound of my kids' busy banters as they prepare for another day in school. I don't even have to bother waking them up. They need no prodding to do what they have to do.

I have my parents who, despite their frail health and other serious concerns, never fail to check on me and my kids. I guess in their eyes I never stopped being their little girl.

I should not forget my bro ('tol) and sis (li'l sis) who, despite the distance between us, have remained close to me. Waking up to their messages in my inbox or cellphone saying "Sis, what do the kids need?" or "Sis, musta na?" ("how are you doing?") always warm my heart.

I have a job that people dream of (if only for the glamor of it) - in a workplace where each one is treated like family .

I have friends (the BFFs) who have stayed with me through thick and thin, rain or shine, come hell or high water. Isn't it amazing that, instead of drifting apart, we (including husbands and kids now) were able to create a much stronger bond through all those 20 years of friendship?

And yes, after a big storm in my life, the sun found its way back and is finally here to stay. Little did I know back then that sunshine would warm my soul again."

3. Yes, I may have lost one important person (James) in my life but I still have many who love me just as much. In "Endings Always Bring New Beginnings", learning to love myself again is the best gift I gave to myself.

"Moving on does not mean that I have not loved him enough. It was a decision not to get stuck in the past. When James entered my life, there was no guarantee at all how long he would stay. So instead of wallowing in self pity, I focused on how fortunate I was to have experienced James' unconditional and unfailing love in all of 22 years of my life.

Now I am able to laugh again. I have rebuilt my life and my strength. The blessings have taken a new meaning simply because I have learned to fully appreciate, enjoy and share them with others. And best of all, I have learned to love myself again."

4. In the blogging world, I found friends who truly matter.

They are people who have taught me that distance is not a hindrance to any friendship. These are friends whom I may not even have the chance in this lifetime to meet personally but have managed to touch my life (and my heart) just the same. They believed in me and have motivated me to continue doing what I have started here. Their blogs (and advices) have inspired me and fostered my own personal/spiritual growth. Thank you so much Kat, Janet, Susan, Mother Maitri and Kara. Thanks to Sandee and Mike for their regular comments in both of my blogs. OMG, how can I forget? Thank you Bingkee for your special friendship.


On this note, let me end this long post with a quote from Og Mandino:

"Count your blessings. Once you realize how valuable you are and how much you have going for you, the smiles will return, the sun will break out, the music will play, and you will finally be able to move forward to the life that God intended for you with grace, strength, courage and confidence."

a pocketful of sunshine to everyone!!!

Blessings to all,