Suck it up, buttercup!

I want to thank the people in my life who have given me a “Suck it up, buttercup!” speech. While I didn’t likely appreciate it in the moment, I am certain I (almost) always was grateful afterwards.

Jason gave me this speech the night before my half-marathon in April. All of my running partners had dropped out of the race, and it was going to be cold and raining the next morning. I wanted to do anything BUT run that race. But he reminded me that I had dedicated myself to it, I had trained, I had gone to physical therapy, and I was capable of doing it on my own. I did it, and it was amazing. Thanks, Jas.

My “Happiness Project” daily desk calendar has told me to snap out of it a time or two. August 10, 2012…”3 tips for feeling happier at work”: 1)Be honest about how you’re spending your time. You feel overwhelmed, but are you really working hard? How much time do you spend surfing the internet*, chatting on the phone**, looking for things you’ve misplaced, or doing tasks that are really someone else’s job? Well aren’t you smart, little desk calendar? But really, between that calendar and a come-to-Jesus talk with Jason’s mom, I realized that my happiness at work will largely depend on the efforts I put into it. It’s really that simple. Thanks, Calendar and Susie.

*I don’t surf the internet all day. I do, however, spend my lunch hour on the internet.

**I don’t chat on the phone all day. I do, however, text more than I should while at work.

My mom has given me multitudes of these chats, so I will simply say, thanks Mom!

Maybe you’re facing a life challenge right now – discontentment at work, a failing relationship, weight loss, breaking a bad habit, financial woes. Ask yourself: “Is this circumstance completely out of my control? Or am I contributing to my own demise?”

It might be time to suck it up, buttercup! After all, life is what you make of it.

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