Bright Spots

Some days are less challenging than others. For me the simplest thing to do when I’m having a challenging day is to look for “bright spots.” Something or someone, maybe some place, that I am quite certain will help me adjust my attitude and get on the upside of the bad mood I’m facing.

It’s been an eventual habit to eliminate relative terms from my vocabulary. I have been working on not using “good” “bad” “easy” “hard” and the like. So even though I used “bad” earlier it was merely to help better convey an idea. The reason for elimination of those relative terms is they are subjective and vary from moment to moment and from person to person.

I mention bright spots and challenging and the like is most of us have an idea of what that is to them. Today, my bright spots are with my students. For two weeks now, I’ve had the extreme honor of helping some Koreans learn English. It’s been an incredibly fulfilling experience.

Some are further along than others but speaking in general, they are so far along in learning a second language, it’s truly impressive. I have spoken to several friends and explained if I were learning another language, I would not be able to attend a class where the instructor only speaks in the second language. So for me, my students are my bright spot.

Today, Thursday, January 24, 2018, I am grateful that:

I can identify behaviors and look toward solution to modify my behaviors in manners more conducive to fulfilling my purpose.

I have become to surround myself with like-minded individuals here in Cebu City. Girlie and Randy, Zee and Myra, and many others have been helping me get settled into a new city. It’s interesting how He puts the right people, in the right place, and just the right time. I am so happy I’m His favorite.

I’ve begun writing again. Since beginning this position, I’ve had to modify my schedule. The primary reason for being here has taken a backseat and that’s no longer acceptable. I have to write and write daily. It’s the reason for being in this place and the only reason for me to continue to stay.

My suggestion for today is to identify at least three bright spots. It can be a song, a person, a place, a thing, whatever you like. It can be whatever you like, as long as it alters your state in a positive manner.

In the summer of 2017 while in Rio de Janeiro, I created a playlist on Youtube entitled “A Great Day.” Currently there are about 10 songs on the list. It varies and I change it when needed. The constant on the list are first three songs. The are indispensable and I listen to them daily. After listening to the first three songs, I pull up Google Docs and begin writing. I write a gratitude list like what you read above. It alters my state. It puts me into a mentality of having plenty. It supports an attitude of gratitude. It’s very challenging for depression and morbid thinking to slip into the picture when I begin my day listing at least three things I am grateful for. It’s nearly impossible to have a “bad” day.

I’d encourage you to identify your bright spots and begin to use them as regularly as possible. One of the things I’ve noticed is when I don’t use them consistently my state a

This is the first part of the entry.