I’ve always heard and read that happiness is a choice, but it didn’t really make much sense to me until this experience below.

A few days ago, I had an important appointment that demanded I wake up quite early to meet. I jumped on my bicycle and rode to the place.

On my way, I unknowingly ran over some sharp-pointed broken bottle pieces.

Now, I was so engrossed listening to an important audiobook that I neither heard the puncture nor observed that I was running on my wheels. A minute or so later, I discovered that my velocity had reduced, and by this time one of the auricolari had slowly left my ear auricle.

I was about to attribute the cause to lactic acid before I heard the squeaking noise of my wheel; I knew that my village enemies had come after me and wanted to abort my all-important meeting.

But since it was the front tyre and I was a few minutes away from my destination, I pedalled on (let those enemies come and burst the back one naa…. I’ll still finish my riding).

As I arrived at my place of rendevous, I noticed sadness and unhealthy worries filling my heart. I had had my day planned out and this was certainly a big distraction (plus the money I’ll spend on the repairs…. not so much but you know that feeling you have when you think you’re wasting some useful coins, especially when it can get you one or more pizza kebab? Yes, pizza kebab, or spaghetti allo scoglio?)

I was so worried that I went from feeling that some enemy wanted to ambush my daily activities to feeling that it was because of my sins  – maybe I hadn’t paid my tithes (lie, because it’ll be due the following Sunday), I didn’t read my Bible (another lie because I read some verses of Scripture before leaving my room).

‘‘Had it been I left earlier?  What were pieces of bottles doing by the wayside? Who is that uncivilised drunkard that threw an empty bottle on the main road? Why didn’t I follow the bicycle lane, after all, it’s far better and less stressful than plying the vehicle lane.

Had I done this, had I done that etc’’? It was so bad that I ceased smiling even. And the person I rendezvoused with noticed.

Then just like when you’re awoken from a pisolino(nap), an awareness trickled into my mind. “Caleb, are you really sad because of this? So, you’ll allow your entire day to be defined by this little thing and forget to focus on the positive side of things?”

Hmmm…. the change of focus was rapid, I began to see that worse things could have happened  – I could have woken up late, I could have met my ride damaged before leaving the gate or a few metres after leaving the house, it could have been the back tyre, I could have woken up with a severe headache –

I mean, many things could have gone wrong. But it was only this and it didn’t stop my appointment.  From this moment, I perceived some clarity and was able to re-programme my day.

Eventually, I repaired my bicycle for less than what I had thought (still worth a delicious pizza kebab though) and was able to accomplish all I had scheduled for the day. 

The Lesson

You see, almost daily several bad things happen to us, and sometimes they are things we absolutely have no control over.

You can choose to be sad and mourn, thus blurring your mind, or you can choose to focus on the positive things and bless God for them, thus shaming the enemy and overcoming your challenges.

It’s really up to you. The devil amplified a little thing to rob me of the bigger things – joy and peace of mind. I succumbed initially but he was later defeated.

You can apply this to your life too. What are those amplifiers in your life?  Turn them off through praying and reading God’s Word.

Always Possess a positive outlook no matter what. Happiness is really a choice not a gift at the end of the day. 

Today matters, don’t waste it on trivialities. 

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