Mondays And The Promise Of New Beginnings

Our culture is convinced that Mondays are the worst thing since trash cans and spoiled sardines. You don't have to buy into that.

The truth is, Mondays represent a fresh opportunity to start off on a strong note. Your children might be grumpy because of the awkward transition back into the work week and daily routines. You might be frustrated the alarm on your phone rang a little too loudly and too early this morning. You might be bleary-eyed and mentally foggy.

Never mind all of that. See Monday for what it really is: the ultimate reset button.

Nothing magical happens on Mondays. Wizards won't start walking down your driveway to grant you three wishes or to put away your dishes. (An unintentional rhyme.) You won't open your mailbox to find $1 million from Publishers Clearing House. And the odds are against a windfall that enables you to quit your job and live off of the interest, at least until your career is a little more mature.

Yet you do have one powerful asset: the ability to choose to be happy.

That's right. I just went out on a limb. Happiness is a choice. Pick up a newspaper or turn on the nightly news and, amid all the darkness, you'll find stories like that of Walter Carr. Walter, a hard-working Alabama man, walked at least 20 miles through the night to ensure he could make it to his new job on time.

He didn't blame anyone or rue the day he took that job. Walter simply kept walking and spreading a positive attitude wherever he went.

Since when have you appreciated your place in life like that -- your job, your family, your church?

Let's all take a big swig of Pull Yourself Together. It's Monday, people. This is only the beginning of a great new week.

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