Don’t Rain on Your Own Parade

Who do you talk to more often than anyone else?

If you’re like me, the answer is — yourself.  But when you talk to yourself you should be careful. There’s no one else to hear you, or comment, or give you advice.

My solo conversations (or internal monologues), begin as soon as I wake up in the morning.  They used to go like this.

“What time is it?  Should I go back to sleep or should I get up?  Should I work out this morning?  Oh, yes, today is Thursday.  When is my first appointment?  What’s on my schedule?  Drat!  It’s going to be a tough day.”

The final sentence in the above monologue is a really bad idea. I should not start the day by telling myself I’m not going to enjoy myself because whatever I tell myself tends to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.  So I will restart.

“What time is it?  I’m feeling good and looking forward to every opportunity the day might bring.  It’s going to be delightful.  I’m looking forward to it.”

Every day of my life brings a new parade.  Naturally, I enjoy some of the marching bands more than others.  But I think it’s always best to take a certain page out of my father’s book.

Every night before he goes to sleep Dad gives thanks for another beautiful day.

I aim to do that every morning, as well as throughout the day.

You can talk to yourself whenever you like, without even moving your lips.  You can tell yourself whatever you choose.  No one but you will ever know, so your secret is safe.

But I’m not going to talk myself out of having a good day. I’m going to look forward to everything I do, and applaud each new experience.

I refuse to rain on my own parade.

Alan