Ray of Light

I am really tired of negative people. Its really grating on me to hear people complain incessently and not ever see the good in the world. I seem to attract these people like a moth to a flame. I don't understand how this subset of people can go through life with such a poor outlook. Maybe its just me but I think you need to find some sort of happiness in your life.
I work with people who have chronic illnesses-some life threatening, some not just chronic and causing interruptions to life-and the vast majority of the folks that I work with have a positive outlook. If you can be happy if the face of a disease that limits your mobility or lifespan, you can be happy in the face of everyday trials and tribulations.
I think its just the last few days I've been surrounded by whiners and complainers-I won't go into detail, but lets just say its very frustrating-and I feel like I am having a hard time shaking things off me like I normally do. From the time I was little, I tried to look for the good in everything, because I like being happy. In fact, its my inalienable right according to the founding fathers of the USA. Since I've become a parent, I've realized how important happiness is to a family and a child's development. I have also realized how my attitude affects my whole family. If I am feeling happy and at inner peace, then chances are the rest of my family is feeling that way. I can't force others to be happy, but I can model that behavior. Everyone has a cranky day now and then (even the puppy dog!) but I think that there is so much to be happy about in our lives.
I try to see the glass as half full, because that's my outlook on life. Many years ago, my mother in law told me that she knew that I'd be ok with whatever happens in my life because I was so positive. My little man is a happy kid. He usually has a smile on his face, and a positive, can do attitude. Every day brings him joy. He doesn't know anything else, and that's a good thing. I think that there are frustrations and negative experiences that he deals with and have happened to him that could make him an angry and bitter child, but he has chosen joy. I've learned a lot from my son, watching him grow and mature and seeing his reaction to the world. He finds so much happiness in playing with his hot wheels cars and legos and other toys, and that is important to him.
Sometimes I think I let too much of the bad stuff come into my life, and that I don't spend enough time doing the things I love. That is what gets me the most frustrated, and steals my joy. Talking with my life coach a long time ago (what an awesome benefit from my job!) we worked out a strategy that I needed to do at least 3 things from my happy list every day. I can tell you that the days that I don't do that I really feel the consequences (and so does my family!). My little man doesn't has a happy list, he just is happiness and all of life is his happy list. Being a grown up, I'm not there anymore, but I can do more to share joy in my life. Even little things can be happiness moments including running errands. There can be another level of happiness in that as well-I get to listen to my ipod in my car, I can be thankful that we are able to eat a variety of foods, etc. etc. etc. I just have to seek the happiness out of it rather than the happiness coming to me. I need to learn from my little man more, rather than the other way around.