Dooley Noted: 12/2/2015
There will be very tough days.
Yesterday was one for me.
I felt myself leaking out happiness consistently over the day, like air leaking from a tire.
Challenging event after challenging event kept showing its adversary nature.
By the end of the day, I had sabotaged myself pretty effectively by making sure every ounce of it was gone.
I woke up with an angel’s shake – since in my leak, I had forgotten to set my alarm.
My days like yesterday are few and far between.
And they are absolutely at my own will.
As I taught someone to breathe into a balloon for anxiety, I didn’t see the analogy right in front of me.
If you puff into a balloon with a slow leak, it won’t matter how much you attempt to put into it. The air will still come out.
So, one must take the steps to patch the happiness leaks.
I bowed my head and thanked whatever woke me up without an alarm.
I looked hard in the mirror at the woman I have become, telling her it was a simple mistake not setting the alarm and no harm came from it.
Patch 1.
As I walked to the train, I looked at my very full schedule. I acknowledged how amazing it was to be able to help so many patients and students.
Patch 2.
I thought of how wonderful it would be to get to spend most of the day at Catalyst, a place I adore with people I adore.
Patch 3.
I texted ten people, just to tell them how much I love them and how much they mean to me. And I realized in that moment how much they love me, too, for doing so.
Patch 4.
I wrote my second anatomy article of the week, along with this blog. Because doing things you love makes you feel happy.
Patch 5.
I moved and moved well, appreciating the mobility, stability, and strength I’ve built.
Patch 6.
I’m more happy before breakfast than I was in the entirety of yesterday.
I patched my leaks and shifted my attitude, and it made all the difference.
After all, you are in charge of your own happiness.
I hope you can work to patch your happiness leaks today.
And I hope you blow up that balloon to its capacity – if it even has one.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley
