This Is Not The Story You Think It Is by Laura Munson
For a long time I have viewed myself as a very optimistic, glass is half full type of person. I can see both sides of almost any situation. I weathered cancer with a smile on my face while singing “It’s a Beautiful Day!” by U2.
When I found out I was pregnant with twins, twins were born early, twins cried all the time, my optimistic nature was shaken. And even though those twins are now soon-to-be 1st graders and their little sister in her last year of preschool, the pressures haven’t let up. Man, having kids is tough! Why didn’t someone tell me??? (Mom, this means you 
)
Over the past several years, I have started to feel a little bit “why me”ish at times and that bothers me. And it sometimes makes me wonder whether I am an optimistic person.
And then I decided that such labels don’t matter.
What matters is my choice. And I choose to be happy and positive. And sometimes that takes effort. It takes action.
A little over a week ago, I was in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for a yoga immersion with my twin sister. I was reading two books at the time This is Not the Story You Think It Is: A Season of Unlikely Happiness by Laura Munson and The Wisdom of Yoga: A Seeker’s Guide to Extraordinary Living by Stephen Cope. Both of these books discuss choosing happiness, in memoir form. The yoga sessions and lectures that I attended were very positive in nature.
This stuff is good for the self-esteem. And positive actions are good for the self. Especially in a season of unlikely happiness.
Today, I asked 4-year-old Ava what makes her happy. Her answer: “just a smile.”
Ok, kids are tough, but they are also so sweet and smart and true.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of This Is Not the Story You Think It Is by Laura Munson for the From Left to Write Book Club that I founded as a continuation of the SV Moms Group Book Club after founding that book club and serving as the book club editor for SV Moms Group for two years. I was not obligated to write about the book and all opinions are my own.
If you are interested in joining my new virtual book club site, From Left to Write, please contact me. From Left to Write holds regular book clubs, writing not book reviews, but our own stories that are inspired by the books we read.
