March 11, 2009

The end of the pity party

I’m a pretty up-beat guy.

I like to experience the joys in life versus the kicks to the groin. I’d rather laugh than cry. When looking at a glass of water, it’s almost always half full (unless TheMonk drank it, then TheMonk’s half full).

Obviously, for the past couple of months it’s been hard to focus on all the wonders of the world when my own world seemed barren and desolate. But that ends today.

Today, I choose to look at all the good that is in my life. Today, I choose to laugh rather than cry. Today I make a choice to live life like I own it rather than living like it owns me. So while there are still many uncertainties in my life I choose to be happy nonetheless.

And I’m upbeat even after learning that my kids lost some IQ points just because I was an old fart when they were conceived. No, not even having stupid kids will get me down today.

Today was a good day. I got to sleep in (Thank you Daylight Savings Time!), I found out my kids aren’t as messed up as I feared, the auction for my YMCA (that many of you helped support) netted over $4,000(!), and I had Golden Grahams for dinner. It’s my feeling that any dinner filled with things that are partially hydrogenated is a pretty darn good meal.

And tomorrow… TOMORROW! I hear that the little punk girl I bought Girl Scout cookies from is finally going to get off her lazy butt and deliver them to my office. AND because the stars are aligning as we speak, I also hear that the two buckets of cookie dough I ordered to support the YMCA Youth & Government program is also coming tomorrow. Life is, indeed, good.

So from here on out, I hope to resonate with joy and love (and possibly chocolate chips). I hope to find humor even when it is difficult. I hope to teach my kids that it’s not getting knocked down that defines you in life. It’s whether you get back up.

And it’s good to remember that even a kick in the nuts can be pretty damn funny. Eventually.

21 Comments »

  1. They haven’t delivered your cookies yet? Talk about late-late-late! We had to get all my daughter’s money back to our cookie coordinator today. Hope you’re able to enjoy the cookies tomorrow!

    Comment by Grace — March 11, 2009 @ 10:50 pm

  2. Did you order Thin Mints? Thin Mints are the silver lining of life. Do not share them with your children. Remember, they don’t know what they’re missing, and ignorance is bliss.

    Me, I accidentally broke the bliss in my house and now my Thin Mints are gone. :( I need to find another Girl Scout.

    Comment by Deanna — March 11, 2009 @ 11:10 pm

  3. I’m discounting the test completely! I’ve got to believe there’s a big difference between 1959 and 2009.

    Comment by Ed (zoesdad) — March 12, 2009 @ 5:43 am

  4. As a woman, a kick to the nuts is usually funny to say. Painful to watch, but funny none the less ;-)

    Good luck to you all, give everyone hugs and cookies.

    Comment by Sonya — March 12, 2009 @ 6:27 am

  5. Good for you! You’ve got the right attitude. And you’re right: in spite of all the negative in your life, there is still plenty of good. To start with, those two sweet faces you get to wake up to every morning! :)

    Sounds like tonight you’ll be having cookies for dinner! Yum.

    Comment by Kate — March 12, 2009 @ 8:03 am

  6. I am routing for you.

    Comment by Ryan — March 12, 2009 @ 8:19 am

  7. I am also ROOTING for you!! Man I am tired today

    Comment by Ryan — March 12, 2009 @ 8:20 am

  8. Cookies, more sleep, unmessed up kids, cookies, $$$ for the Y, cookie dough and your father was 24. Life is very good.

    Comment by Grandmother — March 12, 2009 @ 9:36 am

  9. I’m with Ed. Of course Lukas was born when I was 39, so I have to believe that.

    Comment by James — March 12, 2009 @ 11:03 am

  10. Mr Clumber and I were the same age when the kids arrived, 39 and 41. Hopefully my advanced age balanced out the hit in IQ points.

    I’m rooting for you too.

    Comment by ClumberKim — March 12, 2009 @ 12:19 pm

  11. That’s why I only buy outside the grocer. I need instant gratification.

    Comment by Whit — March 12, 2009 @ 1:00 pm

  12. This is a really good thing to remember. Laughter is the best medicine or at least that’s what my grandfather always said.

    Comment by Issa — March 12, 2009 @ 7:43 pm

  13. a kick in the nuts. hee hee. not your nuts. i just thought it was funny.

    you are a really unique strong individual that chooses wonderful things in life. it has given you so much. and it will keep giving. i love that you made this choice.

    4000??? Woot.

    Comment by mamie — March 12, 2009 @ 9:53 pm

  14. Smile and the world smiles with you! That is the best thing you can do for your children is show them how to deal with lifes ups and downs and always stay positive! And I have a 4 year old that was born when i was 38 and my husband was 43 she is smarter then most of the adults I know :) May you be blessed with love always from your gorgeous children and loads of cookies from lazy girl scouts!

    Comment by joanne — March 13, 2009 @ 7:15 am

  15. Good luck!

    And, if it makes you feel better, we discussed that article with our doctor yesterday, a man who specializes in genetics and has dealt at length with older patients. He said it was a load of crap, that he’d never heard anything of the kind before, and that when he looked up the research, it was tenuous at best.

    So maybe they didn’t lose any IQ points after all. Maybe people just need to publish something stupid to make a dollar?

    Comment by Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com — March 13, 2009 @ 9:29 am

  16. Congrats on the auction. And here’s to better days.

    Comment by above average joe — March 13, 2009 @ 9:42 am

  17. Yyyyyeeeaaaa!!!! I’ve been waiting for this post! I think I’ll go eat some Girl Scout cookies to celebrate!

    Comment by Aunt Raina — March 14, 2009 @ 4:05 pm

  18. Woohoo, cookies for supper!

    Congrats on the $4000!

    Comment by Kila — March 15, 2009 @ 9:03 pm

  19. I am so glad to hear that the brighter side is finally showing its light. Keep on smiling…….

    Comment by Margaret — March 16, 2009 @ 9:58 am

  20. Ya for better days!! I hope things get better and better.

    BTW. I find a kick / hit / punch / batt or anything to the balls pretty funny every time. I can’t help but laugh. Yes. Am 12.

    Comment by sam {temptingmama} — March 19, 2009 @ 7:04 pm

  21. Good for you. Wallowing and crying is good for a time period, but moving on eventually is necessary.

    Comment by NoRegrets — March 30, 2009 @ 1:04 pm

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