THE CRAZY HAPPY STORY

People who don’t know me might look at my site and get the impression that I am a super optimistic person who is happy all the time. Even though I was raised by a perpetual optimist, I tend to fall on the pessimistic and cynical side. I always admired how my mother could see the bright side of even the worst situations. By contrast, I tended to internalize these situations. Everything was super personal. Everything was stacked on top of all of the other things that weighed me down. Occasionally, I would dredge up the past and stack those pieces back on top. It was like a twisted game of Jenga and I was just waiting for it all to fall apart. I suffered from depression and suicidal tendencies for over a decade. My life was far more crazy than happy!

BUT…there was hope

Finally, I decided that I couldn’t live like that any more. I knew that there had to be a better way. I got help. I went to counseling. I went to outpatient therapy. I exercised. I did yoga. I went to church. I surrounded myself with positivity and cut out the negativity. Over the course of a year, I did everything I could to focus on the positive things, to find gratitude for things in my life, and to look beyond myself. It was a very humbling experience. It was hard, but to my amazement things got better! Things were not perfect, but they were better. There was hope and I could finally see it!

Fast forward another decade, I’m married and have a son. Things still aren’t perfect, but they’re still better than they were. I always say that I understand and respect my vice. Whether it is personality or genetics or the way I was raised, I have a tendency to fall prey to the negativity in the world. I am not responsible for these negative thoughts that pop into my head, but I am responsible for what I do with them from there. Do I sit and dwell on them? Or do I push them aside and replace them with positive vibes and gratitude? That is my choice.

So Connected and So Disconnected

Sadly, in our world today it seems like negativity is everywhere you look. The news. The Internet. Some days it feels like that is all that is out there! Technology has somehow made us so connected and so disconnected all at the same time. People seem to think that since they are not face-to-face with someone, they can express their opinions without concern for how they might be received by others. It often feels so vicious, even when it’s not directed at me. I don’t want to avoid reality. But there is a BIG difference between what is actually happening in the world and the manipulation of over sensationalized news and events.

There has to be good things out there, right? It can’t be as bad as my Google News reports. It can’t be as bad as the comments I see in my Facebook feed. I often tell my son that “attitude is everything.” If you do the right thing with a bad attitude, you will still be miserable. But if you endure hardships with a positive attitude, it can literally save your life.

This site is born out of my desire to focus on the good, the fun, and the happy in the world. It is a collection of all the things that make me smile. I want it to do the same for you. I want Crazy Happy to be community of inspiration, encouragement, and general awesomeness. It is as much a reminder to me as it is to anyone else. Life stinks sometimes, but you have a choice. You can chose to dwell on it or you can choose to be crazy happy.

Little Things that Make us Smile

So, to all of my super optimistic friends out there, know that you have my admiration. May your sunny dispositions be a blessing to those around you. To all of my cynical friends out there, I feel ya! Know that it is possible to change your outlook. If your cynicism gives way to depression, know that there is hope and that there is no shame in seeking help. To these extremes and to everyone who might fall in between, let us all try to live and be positive lights to those around us. May Crazy Happy be a reminder to us all to focus on the little things in life that make us smile.

Speaking of smiling…here’s a picture that makes me smile! My crazy kiddo had been watching me pose for pictures and finally decided to jump in on the fun. I’m pretty sure he is my mini-me in more ways than one!

What’s your story? Has it been filled with more crazy or more happy? What do you do to set your focus on good and happy things? Let me know in the comments!

Let’s connect!!! Visit the Crazy Happy social sites and tell me more about yourself! Use #CrazyHappySmile to post pictures of things that make you smile!

Thanks for being awesome!!

Peace, Love & Happiness,