Dr. Alex Karev found the sunny side of a surgery. (Image ABC.com)

I have been reading The Dating Optimist’s blog today and I think it is changing the way I go about my daily routine. I’m now looking for the optimistic aspects of just about everything! In tonight’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy, for example, on his first day in charge of Seattle Grace, Dr. Shepherd wonders how many disasters one day can hold.  It just seems that anything that can wrong, will go wrong. And haven’t we all had those days? One surgery, in particular, takes an unexpected turn when Dr. Karev is operating on a child with severe stomach pains. The surgery comes back with no results. The problem they thought was causing his pain, wasn’t even there. It wasn’t until the patient was back in recovery, that a problem with his heart suddenly lets itself be known, with drastic results. If not for the surgery on one part of his body, doctors would have never discovered the problem with his heart.

This is a great example of fate and also the benefits of being optimistic. The patient’s father was so angry that all of these problems had evolved from a simple stomach pain.  Karev, the most unlikely of optimists, explained that if not for the minor problems, the heart problem could have hit when the patient was home, without giving him time to get to the hospital.  Sometimes the tiny bumps in the road can help prepare us for the larger obstacles, maybe even prevent the larger obstacles from even happening.

Needless to say, if just reading a few posts on her blog can inspire such a change, I will be sure to pick up a copy of her book, Meeting Your Half Orange, this weekend!

Tags: Amy Spencer, Grey's Anatomy, Meeting Your Half-Orange, The Dating Optimist

With my new goal to focus more attention on this blog, I am realizing that the benefit of such a task is the constant searching for topics to write about. I am finding myself both more observant of my surroundings and more curious. Yesterday, while wandering the aisles of Barnes & Noble, I noticed a man walking with a cane. Immediately my heart broke for this man. He was stooped over, the rubber foot on his cane was worn at an angle from constant use and his facial expression looked heavy under the weight of what I presumed to be his overwhelming sadness.

But I was projecting that on to him. What I realized upon further reflection, and when he passed me about 15 more times during my visit to the store, was that this was a man who was out and about, perusing bookstore shelves. He was looking at magazines, bestsellers, sale books. He wasn’t sitting at home feeling sorry for himself. He was interacting with the world. He wasn’t letting his handicap slow him down for a second.

We create our happiness. We can either feel sorry for ourselves and wallow in self-pity, or we can pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and jump into life. We need to take advantage of every opportunity to learn, grow, and expand our social circles. There are times when most of us would like to stay in bed all day and avoid our hectic lives, but then what are you left with? No stories. No adventures. No discoveries whatsoever. Life is meant to be lived and this man, with his cane and his limp, is living his life. The worn rubber foot of the cane initially filled me with sorrow because it meant years of using that same cane to navigate a treacherous world. But looking at it from a different angle, I can see that that man has been using his cane! He hasn’t been sitting down, waiting for the end. He has been getting up and getting out, in whatever way he can. God gave him a cane and he is using it and not letting it slow him down or stop him on his pursuit of a life well-lived.

As I mentioned yesterday, I am reading Gretchen Rubin’s THE HAPPINESS PROJECT and loving it! One idea that hit me as particularly poignant was something she has mentioned on her blog, as well. You have the ability to change the way you see and react to things in your life. Gretchen writes, “Studies show that by acting as if you feel more energetic, you can become more energetic.” She references David Dunning’s book, Self-Insight: Roadblocks and Detours to the Path of Knowing Thyself. Dunning writes:

“[People] can argue anything. If asked to argue that some assertion “A” is true, people can do that. If next asked to argue that the opposite of “A” is true, they can do that, too, often with the exact same ease and effectiveness…When testing a hypothesis, people tend to emphasize evidence that confirms the hypothesis over information that disconfirms it. For example, if I asked someone whether he or she was an outgoing individual, that someone will likely sit back to think about times he or she has been an extroverted, sociable person…if I asked the same person whether he or she is the shy type, he or she would likely think of exactly…opposing examples because they confirm the new hypothesis.” (46-47)

I love the idea that we have that much control over our ultimate happiness and acceptance of the hands we have been dealt just by changing the way we look at things. Sometimes we avoid saying, “I am so happy,” for fear that it will be taken from us. In reality, saying these words both internally and externally actually pushes us in the direction of happiness.

I am thrilled to be following my own path towards happiness and cultivating a more appreciative existence.

Tags: David Dunning, Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project

Loving this book, The Happiness Project! I was reading on Gretchen Rubin’s website, The Happiness Project, about this month’s focus being ENERGY. Because I have recently mentioned my passion for running, I think it is a nice segue into Gretchen’s energy focus for January. Energy is crucial in tackling all aspects of life and exercise is a great way to increase your daily energy.

Here are some of the tips Gretchen provides for staying motivated in your exercise routine.

Everyone knows that exercise is a KEY element to good health. The trick is keeping yourself motivated to exercise, if you’re a person who naturally relapses into the couch-potato pose.

It took me years of prodding, but I’ve finally managed to turn myself into a dedicated exerciser. I never push myself very hard (at all), but I do manage to stick with a routine.

Personally, I find it more motivating to think about short-term gratification like “I’ll sleep better” than long-term considerations like “I’ll live longer” or “If I have surgery, I’ll recover quicker.”

Here are some things to keep in mind, if you’re trying to keep yourself motivated to exercise:

1. Exercise boosts energy. It took me a long time to notice that I’d drag myself to the gym, work out for forty minutes, and leave feeling far more energetic than when I went in.

2. Exercise provides an outlet for feelings of pent-up hostility, irritation, and anger. I always find that I’m far calmer and more forbearing on days when I’ve exercised. I have a jittery, high-strung nature, and exercising takes the edge off.

3. Repetitive, rhythmic motion of exercises like walking and running brings a serene mood and clarifies thinking. I’ve had all my best writing ideas when walking or running, and sometimes assign myself a particular problem to think over during a walk.

4. Sticking to an exercise regime raises your self-esteem for the very fact that you’re sticking to an exercise regime.

5. Exercise offers a chance to be alone and uninterrupted—a relief if, like me, you’re often surrounded by distractions. Or, if you prefer, exercise also offers a chance to get together with other people–a relief if, like me, you spend a lot of time working alone. I have both kinds of exercise during my week.

6. Regular exercise helps to keep your body chemicals in balance. When you experience stress, your body prepares for “fight or flight” with a huge number of biochemical reactions. A stressful event these days, however, is more likely to require a phone call than a sprint uphill. The potentially damaging byproducts of the stress response, such as cortisol, nevertheless continue to pump through the body, and exercise helps offset that effect.

7. Exercise helps you fall asleep more easily and sleep more deeply. The Big Man really notices this in himself.

8. Pure vanity can be a good motivator. Remember that people who exercise move more easily and energetically, and appear more youthful.

9. When I don’t feel like exercising, I remind myself how lucky I am to be able to move easily and without pain—no wheelchair, no crutches, no brace, no trick knee or bad back.

Tags: Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project

Last night my dinner with friends brought us to Chinatown in Boston. We tried very hard to have “authentic” Chinese food and not the Americanized version. I am partial to the American version of Chinese food. I like my lo mein, fried rice and chicken fingers. What can I say, I’m a purist. But one of my dinner companions is actually from China, so he knew exactly what to order that would send our culinary vision of Chinese food spinning.

The meal started with our waiter bringing a live crab to our table for us to “inspect” and moments later the crab was seasoned, spiced and fried. I wish I could say that I ate it and it was the most delicious culinary experience of my life. Nope. I’m a wimp. I stuck with my noodles and rice and watched everyone else venture through unknown territory. Do I wish I was more adventurous? Sure. Was I happy with my noodles and rice? You bet!

Sometimes it’s fun to just be a part of something daring, to witness it and take in your surroundings without actually jumping in feet first. I’m more than happy taking it all in.

I fully credit my elevated mood with the kick ass run I accomplished today. As I posted yesterday, I have been feeling a bit down in the dumps. Well, today I laced up my sneakers and hit the ground running (sadly, I think I’ve used that pun before…eesh!) and I am feeling on top of the world. Admittedly none of my stressors have gone away and I am still feeling overwhelmed by the winter doldrums, but I do feel a burst of sunshine from deep within. There is something to be said for moving, putting one foot in front of the other and pushing forward.

I also finished a phenomenal book yesterday. The Help by Kathryn Stockett. If you haven’t read it…GO READ IT! I loved this book. I’m now about halfway through Jonathan Lethem’s CHRONIC CITY and loving this book, as well, for a completely different reason. The writing, each sentence, is so clever that you feel completely absorbed by this alternate reality he has created. Definitely a book to check out. I hate to admit that this is my first Lethem experience, but I am glad I picked it up.

Now I am off to brave the frigid air to celebrate a friend’s birthday in the city. What we do for those we love!

Tags: Chronic City, Jonathan Lethem, Kathryn Stockett, The Help

Three blog posts in one day! Hopefully this is a sign of consistency to come!

I didn’t run yesterday or today and am feeling it! Not physically, actually my heel has been hurting a little so it feels good to give it a little rest, but emotionally and psychologically.

It’s amazing how running has turned into my own private therapy. There is something about the rhythm and consistency of one foot in front of the other, combined with upbeat music that really helps me sort through all of the emotions and obstacles that I face on a daily basis.

I also get most of my inspiration during my runs. As a publicist, I am always thinking of interesting and creative angles to pitch my authors to various media outlets. Not only does the mind-wandering time allow me to come up with some pretty creative pitches but flipping through the news channels also keeps me abreast on all of the hot topics in the media.

So I guess you could say I am a big fan of running.

I know, I know..two posts in a row, no pictures. I’m sorry! I’m just not in a tech-y mood. I don’t feel like uploading pictures, formatting the post so that it looks “just right.” I’m in a pull the covers over your head and pray for a good chick flick on tv because there is no way I am facing the winter chill outside my own front door kind of mood.

I feel like I have been on a treadmill lately with regards to work. Non-stop. I love it and it inspires and fuels me daily, but sometimes you just need a little break.

I feel so badly that I haven’t posted here in forever. Unfortunately, I have been spreading myself way too thin and doing about a million things at once. Sadly, this is the spot that seems to have suffered the most.

I promise I will be back to regular blogging soon!

Yes, you can still watch yours truly on the Oprah Book Club Webcast for Uwem Akpan’s SAY YOU’RE ONE OF THEM. I made a record 5 appearances on Oprah this year! I am the first guest and appear within the first six minutes or so…and yes, Oprah and I proclaim or “best friend” status…even though it looks like she’s yelling at me in the picture above.

{Sorry for the weak screen capture…this is actually the image from The Story of Edgar Sawtelle webcast…but I didn’t change much in 4 months.}

Tags: oprah book club, say you're one of them, Uwem Akpan