My Joy Ride!
As I write in my journal this morning I glance back at yesterday’s reflections. In the early predawn hours I wrote, “My intention today is to choose joy, no matter the circumstances.”
Moving into my day I began the 20-minute car ride to a distant Walmart that has a Quest Lab inside where I had an appointment to have some lab work done. A little nervous and anxious about navigating the parking lot and busy store on crutches I made the decision to give the electric cart a spin! As I thought through all I could accomplish with a cart (getting a new book and a few groceries) I allowed myself to move from feelings of anxiousness to a quiet excitement about the increased independence using the cart would give me.
I parked and slowly made my way to the entrance on crutches where I searched for my vehicle of freedom! Not seeing one, I looked for an employee that could assist me. The “greeter” was busy chatting on his phone, so I stood patiently for 5 minutes trying to get his attention. When he did not acknowledge my apparent presence, I finally asked if he could help me. This isn’t a post on Walmart’s customer service or lack thereof so I will not bore you with the details. Bottomline, he said he could not help me; that there were no carts available ~ “perhaps they are in use”, then followed that reply with “they get stolen a lot.” So, I waited 30 minutes for an in-use cart to be returned ~ no luck.
It was clear my joy ride was not imminent. In my frustration and disbelief at the lack of any effort to help me find a solution I begin to craft an angry and rather ugly response to the employee in my head. Then…
“My intention today is to choose joy, no matter the circumstances” shouted loudly to me in my head. The intention I had set just a few short hours earlier was staring me in the face. Would I “push pause” and make the choice to choose joy here or allow myself to be a self-righteous, angry victim? I chuckled to myself and decided that joy was the better choice. As I “crutched” my way back to my car I victoriously proclaimed, “I will not be beaten” and proceeded to Target where I got my joy ride!!
My lessons
- Setting an intention for the day is a good idea!
- Attaching that intention to an existing habit helps me to recall it throughout the day. (When I check my phone for emails or texts, I will pause and remember my intention)
- Joy is a choice that is not based on my current circumstances. I have the power of choice.
- Joy and happiness are not the same. I can be unhappy about a situation and still chose joy.
- Joy and grief, pain, frustration, _______ can coexist.
- Pushing Pause is a powerful tool in my toolbox. When I pick it up and use it, the outcome is typically much better than if I moved forward without this tool.