Good things aren't always obvious. All of us at some point have opened our eyes in the morning and winced away from the sunlight shooting in through the drapes. We've covered our heads with our pillows and thought, "there's nothing good about today." That thought is never correct.
One could think that sun shining and the birds singing and all the beautiful things that a beautiful morning has to offer aren't good things but it's only because they aren't thinking. One simple thought makes all that worth while. So they don't care about the sunlight or the birds or about anything else in the world... is it because someone hurt them? The good thing in this common dreary sentiment is that they once loved someone... and quite possibly still do. Another good thing is that they can love someone else just as much, maybe even more. Of course they could be negative enough to counter that another negative thought, but positivity always counters negativity. Something good is always with us. I know this because I've been in that dark spot where there seems to be no hope. I've been in a place where I've refused to listen to the voice of reason who had good things to say even when I followed every thought with negative words. And most of you have too... at some point.
I posted a comment not too long ago about how, as I spread good things and positivity, I bump into people who meet me with hostility. They feel assaulted when I ask them to tell me something good. They actually get angry when I tell them to smile. We know that physically it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile, so they're working extra hard to look grumpy. I find it silly for people to go out of their way to be miserable. They can't justify it with any story of hardship and woe because I've been there too. My life isn't as horrible as some people in the world. I've never known the hardships that so many have known. But at the same time, many haven't known the horror or the hardships that I have. And I still have something good. So how do we warm these people's hearts? How do we comfort them and help them feel better? How do we encourage them to spread positivity in order to change their own lives for the better? We simply smile and wave. I'd give that person a hug and keep sharing with them the beauty of everything good. They can ignore it or deny it, but eventually it will melt that hard shell and they'll make it through. Everybody has something good... countless somethings good. We just need to open our eyes to see it. This is the point of "Tell Me Something Good." We can change our mental health and physical health and all the bad attitudes we have. And with that, we can change the way of the world. I'm not going to lie and say that we can vanquish war and cancer and everything bad in the world with a simple thought of something good, but it wouldn't hurt, and it certainly is a start.
I want to thank everyone who carries on this campaign. I want to embrace you and tell you that every day I read your good things, I am better for it. Every person that follows this blog or every facebook member who "likes" the page, makes me smile and gives me one more good thing to add to my collection. Spread positivity. Smile, laugh, love, and enjoy what you do. At the end of this blog, approach someone in your life and say to them, "You're my good thing." It's going to make you smile and I promise it'll make them smile too.
Good things are not always obvious, but they are always with us.
Join the Tell Me Something Good facebook page.
I've said this before but it still holds true... Every day, someone sends me an email or comes up to me on the street and tells me thanks for promoting positivity with the “Tell Me Something Good” campaign. As far as the spread of it online, people are practicing it in Germany, the UK, all across America and even in central America... and every time someone points out something good in their life, it does them good as well as everyone who understands how it's supposed to work. There are some folks who don't get it, but don't blame them... they'll catch up. We all have something good to share, even the most unhappy of people can't deny that with any truth. When I wake up in the morning to take my daughter to school, I kiss my sleeping wife goodbye. She smiles a closed eye sleepy smile and she tells me to be careful. I love starting every day like that. She's a woman who is gorgeous even when she gets up in the morning and as far as good things go, I can't think of anything else that I have, that even remotely comes close. I want you to share with me your good things. Post them here on this blog, post them on my facebook, send them to me in an e-mail... Don't keep that positivity to yourself, share it!
Here's a list of the good things I've posted since the 1st of April, the day I began telling you something good.
April 1st... The start of “Something Good”
April 2nd.. Scrambled eggs and toast with huckleberry jam.
April 3rd.. I was able to walk out on my balcony this morning and feel the sun on my face.
April 4th.. Webb Wilder...
”Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard, grow big, wear glasses if you need em.”
April 5th.. A kiss on the forehead by my little girl. First thing in the morning is the best time for one of those!
April 6th.. I got back in touch with some great friends from up north. Been over a decade since I've talked to these people... Old friends uniting... now that's a good thing.
April 7th.. great music is a good thing... it's never too far away.
April 8th.. It's Friday and I have no intention of posting that horrible girl's video.
April 9th.. This goes for everyone I know as well... No matter how bad things seem... there is always someone who cares about you. I know this for a fact...
April 10th. the zen of playing laser pointer with the cat.
April 11th. The good thing here is that good things are appreciated.
April 12th. Oatmeal with apples and a splash of rum...
April 13th. In the middle of the night when I start waking up from being cold, even before I start bitching and moaning, my lovely wife wakes up and moves the covers over me. I don't know if it's her psychic power or that I've really been bitching and moaning in my sleep and have finally woke her up without meaning to, but it's nice.
April 14th. when someone says "sorry" and means it.
April 15th. her legs wrapped around mine, her hair draped over my arm, and our noses touching just before we kiss. Now that is a good thing!
April 16th. Laying around in bed till almost noon... laughing and telling stories and having a tickle fight.
April 17th. Reading my email last night, I found one from Allison Blass. If you happened to read my note from yesterday, you'd know that she's the one whose friend asked her to tell him something good. She's been out of touch with that friend for years but is happy to see that people are still spreading that kind of positivity.
April 18th. when you make a difference in someone's life... and if you're reading this, you've made a difference. That's something good.
April 19th. I am surrounded by beautiful, kind, caring, intelligent people.
April 20th. Rhiannon's excited that we're going on a family outing to the Mission Santa Clara de Asis. She can hardly contain herself.
April 21st. doing something with my sweetheart for the first time... It's great when we can look at each other and say, "We've never done this before."
April 22nd. the connections that are actual and everlasting.
April 23rd. Even spam that attempts to slander me in my friend's eyes on Facebook can't make me unhappy. What a great day this is!
April 24th. friends and family all day long.
April 25th. I got a great night's sleep after a very peaceful very enjoyable Easter.
April 26th. The complete awesomeness of children.
April 27th. I was driving home tonight thinking about those who don't judge me... who know I'm imperfect and allow me to make mistakes and are still there for me when I need them and are there when I grow past those mistakes into someone smarter and stronger. Thanks again. I love you.
April 28th. our freedom of speech which includes our freedom of expression. Without it, many of you wouldn't even know who I am.
April 29th. After 29 days of promoting positivity, I saw nothing but positivity all morning long.
April 30th. This morning I saw a post on a friend's wall she's taken "Tell Me Something Good" to a new level and is encouraging people to post things they're grateful for. It's good to see positivity spread like this.
May 1st... I got up this morning and was greeted with a big grin and a kiss from my little girl, Rhiannon. She is my good thing for today.
May 2nd... I'm happy to report that not a day goes by without someone telling me that they like my positive messages. Good vibes and healthy attitude reaches across the globe instantly if you do it right. Today, my good thing is that I have a review to post and my next "Good Things" blog. It's nice to accomplish something.
So thats it for April's “Good Thing” report. I'll list the new batch around the first Monday of June, but until then I'll still be posting positive stories and telling everyone what's good in my life. I do hope that you'll take part in this campaign to spread positivity by thinking about all the things in your life that are good... and I hope you'll share it with me and everyone else.
Take care- Eb.
