Look on the Bright Side

“If it clouds up in the city,

The weather man complains.

But where I come from,

Rain is a good thing.”

Luke Bryan, Rain is a Good Thing

How many times have you heard people complain? People complain that it’s Monday, or that they have to go to work all day, or that it’s raining (…snowing if you’re in Ohio).

I don’t know about you, but I find complaining extremely annoying.

Now don’t get me wrong; I don’t necessarily enjoy Mondays, working nine to five, or rain/snow, but I at least try to look on the bright side of life.

• Instead of complaining that it’s Monday, be thankful you woke up to see another day.

• Instead of complaining about your work schedule, think about all the people who are struggling because they don’t have a job.

• Instead of complaining about the weather, be thankful you get to experience different seasons.

What is Optimism?

Webster’s Dictionary has two definitions for the word optimism.

1. “A doctrine that this world is the best possible world.”
2. “An inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome.”

How Optimism Will Change Your Life

Being optimistic is a choice. If you choose to have a positive outlook, your life will improve in many ways.

How optimism will change your life:

• Attitude. There’s a drastic difference between an optimistic person’s attitude and a pessimistic person’s attitude. An optimistic person tends to be happier.
• Health. Being optimistic improves your health. According to research done by Mental Health America, “people who are pessimistic have a 20 percent higher chance of dying over a 30-year period than those who are optimistic.”
• Personable. People would rather be around someone who looks on the bright side of life rather than someone who is always down in the dumps.

Check out 10 ways to start feeling optimistic about your life.

How to be Optimistic

• Use positive self-talk.
• Count your blessings. Be grateful and thankful for everything you have – your home, friends, family, health, vehicle, etc.
• Smile more often. Smiling will make yourself feel happy – even if you’re having a bad day.
• Don’t sweat the small stuff. If you’re worried about something (a test for example), remind yourself it’s only one test. In five years, it probably won’t matter what grade you got on one test in one class.
• Look to the future. Don’t dwell on past failures. Look ahead and strive for success.

Remember: No One is Perfect

You might be an optimistic person, but that doesn’t mean every day is filled with smiles and rainbows. Everyone has bad days.

Getting a flat tire, receiving a bad grade or having a migraine are a few things that might put a damper on your day. Luckily, each day is a new beginning. Each new day has the potential to be extraordinary if you have that mindset.

Do you think being optimistic has the power to change your life? Why or why not?

Alan Jackson Supports the Colon Cancer Alliance

One of my all-time favorite country stars is Alan Jackson. You’ve probably heard of him, even if you’re not a fan of country music. He was signed to his first label in 1989.

A few of his most famous songs are:

• Chattahoochee
• Remember When
• Livin’ on Love
• Good Time
• Small Town Southern Man

Along with his collection of classic songs, Jackson has also collected numerous awards throughout the years.

Musicians On Call

Source: MOCMusiciansOnCall YouTube

Musicians On Call & Public Relations

This week’s post is a little different than usual. Since I’m majoring in public relations, I’m going to tie non-profit PR in with country music. A music-based organization that has particularly caught my eye is Musicians On Call (MOC).

Background

MOC is an organization that brings volunteer musicians to hospitals to play at the bedsides of patients. From 1999, when the non-profit was established, to 2009, MOC has played music for over 125,000 individuals.

Live in the Present

“These are some good times,

So take a good look around,

You may not know it now,

But you’re gonna miss this.”

Trace Adkins, You’re Gonna Miss This

Class, homework, and work. That’s my life, and I’m sure a lot of college students can relate – especially around mid-terms.

Today in the short amount of time between classes and work, I thought about all the things I had to get done. I broke down and started crying. I hardly ever cry, but enough stress has that effect on me.

Luckily my dad was home, so I started venting to him. I told him how I can’t wait to graduate, leave Ohio, and get a real job. My dad’s response was: “Don’t wish your life away. After you graduate, move out of Ohio and get a real job, you’ll look back on these days and wish you could live them over again.”

My Dad told me the same thing when I was in high school. I couldn’t wait until my basketball season was over back then, but now, I would give anything to play another game with my teammates.

You’re Gonna Miss This

My Dad’s advice made me think of the song “You’re Gonna Miss This,” by Trace Adkins.

Money and Happiness

“How many times have

You heard someone say,

‘If I had his money,

I could do things my way.’

But little they know,

That it’s so hard to find

One rich man in ten

With a satisfied mind.”

Johnny Cash, Satisfied Mind

First and foremost, Happy birthday to Johnny Cash! Although he’s no longer alive, Cash remains to be an iconic artist in country music.

Cash has a ton of songs that have valuable lessons within the lyrics, so it was hard to choose which one to write about. The lyrics to ‘Satisfied Mind’ stuck out to me the most because it’s applicable to a lot of college students – mostly broke, yet striving to make bank.

Will this lead you to happiness?

Money Can’t Buy Happiness

The lesson to be learned from Cash’s song, ‘Satisfied Mind,’ is that money doesn’t lead to happiness. Being content with what you have, however, does.

Should You Stay, or Should You Go?

“I know you used to love me,

But that was yesterday.

And the truth, I won’t fight it,

When the loves starts burning

You got to do what’s right.”

Jarrod Niemann, Lover Lover

Should You Stay, or Should You Go?

Entering a new relationship is exciting. The first few months in a relationship are usually fun, cheerful and simple. You spend a ton of time getting to know each other, and become nearly inseparable.

As months pass by, relationships change.  It’s inevitable. So after the initial excitement dwindles away, what happens next?

Compassion

“We may shine, we may shatter,

We may be picking up the pieces here on after,

We are fragile, we are human,

We are shaped by the light we let through us.

We break fast, ‘cause we are glass.”

Thompson Square, Glass

Have you ever wanted to change the world but doubted yourself? After all, you’re just one in a couple billion; nothing you do would ever have an effect on the world, right?

Wrong.

You have the power to make the world a better place, and the key is compassion.

The song Glass by Thompson Square reminded me that everyone faces struggles throughout their lives, and it’s important to be empathetic with everyone’s feelings. Showing compassion toward people will not only make them happier; it will help you through your own struggles which will make you happier.

What is Compassion?

According to dictionary.com, the definition of compassion is “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.” It doesn’t matter what gender, age, race, or religion you are; misfortunes take place in everyone’s lives at some point or another. Misfortunes can be anything from receiving a bad grade, to losing a loved one. What may be a misfortune to you, may not be a misfortune to somebody else.