I’m no Barbara. …

When I was a little girl, I was drawn to an older lady named Barbara. Barbara is still living, and I was lucky to see her recently.  She always had a smile, always happy to see me, always interested in what I was doing, and just so genuinely nice. We would trick-or-treat at her beautiful old farmhouse. “Come in! Let me see you! Isn’t that darling!” She just always made me feel so good! At 90 something, she still does. Why can’t we all be so nice to one another? Why is it so hard for some of us to be genuinely happy for others? Me included. I want nothing more than to be like Barbara. I would have to make a concerted effort though. I don’t always have nice thoughts. I have come a long way, but I’m no Barbara. I definitely have my moments when I have to vent to get over something.  I have a few people who know this, but love me anyway. They know how to listen, support me, soothe me and let me get over it. Thank goodness for them. I can actually move on and forgive someone who’s been a jerk to me. I don’t want to go through life holding grudges and  harboring
hate. Some people thrive on the drama; it consumes their entire being. They are miserable

. They would never be able to say to someone else anything good. Are they insecure, in pain, jealous, hurt? We won’t know because they don’t even know why they can’t be happy for someone else. They find temporary joy in the failings or misery of others. They would stab you in the back at any given moment. Oh how the world needs more Barbara’s! I have realized that my life changed 100% for the better when I learned to say, “I’m sorry”. My world is 100% better when I smile and say  “hello”. My kids will be 100% more confident when I can say, “good job!” to the kid who did better than my own. We don’t achieve happiness or greatness or peace of mind when we tear others down. We can get those things by being genuinely happy for other people’s accomplishments and good fortune. I have to work a little harder than Barbara to show happiness towards my fellow man, but dang, do I feel good when I do…