Where is the happy?

  What the hell happened to happy?
 
  It seems like people are never happy. Yeah, yeah, yeah... I know... its not exactly like the world is all sparkles and rainbows. But seriously, if people enjoyed the small things half as much as they bitched about them, their lives would be exponentially better.
 
"For every minute you spend sad, thats a minute you could have spend happy that you'll never get back."-Unknown

  When you go through your day, how do you look at everything? Do you focus on how beautiful the sunrise was, or how pretty everything looks all frosted over? Or do you focus on how your pop tart got stuck in the toaster and caught fire? Why is it so hard for some people to focus on the nice things?
  And happy is really easy to share. Smile more, simply be kind and courteous. Any person you interact with (and sometimes people you don't) notice your mood. You can turn a person's entire day around with just a smile and friendliness. And its nice to make other people happy. Thats one of my favorite things about my job, interacting with people and making them happy.
  Maybe I've just got a childish mentality regarding this. But really, why not look out the window sometime and find something pretty. It really does make the day just a little better. I hate the snow, absolutely hate it. Its cold, wet, nasty stuff that gets in your shoes and everywhere. It frequently assists in injury. But the other day I was looking out the car window, and noticed how fabulously gorgeous all the ugly, dead little weeds looked all covered in pretty, pristine, sparkly snow. I didn't hate the snow quite as much that day.
  When you go out somewhere (the gas station, grocery store, etc.) smile at whoever helps you. Thank them. Sure those are just little things, but it makes the day better.
  I think if people would start to notice the little things that are happy more than the little things that suck, the world would be a much better place.

A little honesty and thought

   As a kid, we were all taught little life lessons. Vegetables are good for you; Don't run with sissors; Work first, play later. Or something close to those, and many more. What about those little life lessons that really aren't all that helpful to an adult. They can be sure, but if you were to use them as a general rule at all times, things may become... interesting.

Honesty is always the best policy.
  Yes, honesty is a good thing. But not always. If you work with the public (a lot) and deal with all sorts of people (some of them being quite rude, unintelligent, and other such endearing traits), you can see my point. Sometimes, you would like nothing better than to tell some people that they can just go jump off a cliff, or that they're a dumbass. More often that not, I find myself biting my tongue, smiling, and walking away. If I were a direct, blunt, uncaring individual, I would just tell these people my thoughts. But I'm not. And I understand that not everybody suffers from being excessively nice to virtually everybody (especially to people they don't know). And that's good. But I have this issue of being a nice person, and therefore am frequently keeping my "honesty" to myself.

It's the thought that counts.
   This is a lie. The thought without action is useless as an adult. If you don't do something at your job, they aren't likely to say "Oh, thats okay" if you tell them "I thought about it." If you have sex, and only think about using a condom, chances are, you'll get pregnant. If it's your girlfriend's birthday, and you come home and the only thing you have for her is "Well, I did think about getting you something honey, but [insert excuse here]" she is NOT going to be happy.



  I know, this a very cynical, sarcastic outlook. But alas, thats the way my brain works.

A minor rant

  What the hell is wrong with people? I ask myself this pretty much everyday. Of course, everybody has an answer to this question, in some shape, way, or form. But still, I can't help but ask.
  I mean seriously, what the hell happened to living life to the fullest, for yourself and only yourself? How in the hell did the American people become so obsessed with what their next door neighbor was doing, instead of where they themselves are going in life? People will point the finger at everyone in sight, and tell them how they are living in the wrong, but yet they almost never admit to their own faults. What gives anybody the right to judge anybody else? We're all fucked up. In some way or another, we all have issues. Where do people get off on criticizing others when they are just as fucked up as the rest of the world. I mean sure, there are thousands of things that I personally would probably never do, but does that give me the right to denounce others' actions? Hell no.
  The more I watch TV and read the news, the more twisted the world seems. More people are reading about what this celebirty is doing, or what that athleat has done. We let the media control our reaction to virtually everything. Nobody questions anything. The news says something is horrific, we automatically judge those involved, we draw our own conclutions without even looking at the alternatives. Some somebody somewhere decides something is cool or uncool, and the majority of the nation falls right in line behind them.
  Almost everything we know and think is based off of societies reviews. On everything. Music, clothing, drugs, marriage... of life. Where do we draw the line? When do we stand up and say "This is bullshit! Who the hell cares?" The people with power are so concerned over dictating the minor things in the lives of others, that the real problems just get swept under the rug. 
  A kid was suspended from school over a Michael Jackson move. Really?! A dance move. Sure, it was the crotch grab, but still. In comparison of what children have access to see on a daily basis, that is insignifcant in the grand scheme of things. Almost everybody has seen a Michael Jackson music video. Its not likely that this dance move is going to promote sex, drugs, or any other harm.
  Same sex marriage is a huge controversial issue right now... WHY?! I mean really, how in the hell is somebody marrying the person they love going to effect you? Because they hold hands, hug, and kiss in public? Big, effing deal! Thats none of your damn business anyway. You don't like what you see, turn your head the other direction. We have no right to decide other peoples' happiness (or lack thereof). I don't want to see 90 year old man checking out bras, so does that mean we should put an age limit on the underwear section of the store? No, thats just ridiculous.
  It seems to me that America doesn't know what the hell it stands for. Originally, the colonist left Britain to be free. All they wanted was to be allowed to worship whom they wanted. Live life as they pleased. But over the years, look at how many times America has tried supressing other people. Women were property, cut and dried. No rights, no anything. Eventually it was admitted that this was the wrong outlook, and women gained rights. Now women can get away with many things men can't, simply because they're women. Slavery was another idiotic idea that ended up blowing up. Skin color has nothing to do with the person you are. Americans pushed the Native Americans off their own land numerous times. Now the government is paying them monthly. Now we're trying to tell people who they can be happy with?
  Amazingly enough, most of these issues stem from God. God told us we could. Manifest destiny. Government and religion are supposed to be two totally seperate things. Yet when asked, God is usually the reason behind the action. "The bible says"... you know what, not everybody believes in the bible. Not everybody believes in God. Thats just one more thing people take, and twist to fit their purposes.
  You would think that as a nation, we would look back on previous disputes and issues, and learn from them. No, instead, we find something else to try and control people with.
  I guess I just don't understand why in the hell people are so concerned with what other people are doing when they really should just focus on themselves and their happiness. Where in the hell did people get the idea that it was okay to feel superior?