Optimism trumps pessimism every time

Those who are closest to me know that I have been through a rough patch in the last year. The highs were high and the lows were, well, way down there. I can see a glimmer of sunlight at the end of this tunnel and I want to share a wee bit of the wisdom that helped me along the way:

This is your life, only you can truly control your choices, and choosing happiness is the best way to achieve being a good to yourself as well as the world. Here are some suggestions for how you can ensure simple joy in your life:

·  Be the best you can be by your own standards

·  Surround yourself with people who inspire you and make you feel good

·  Focus on what you have, not what you lack

·  Optimism trumps pessimism every time!

·  Smile often and genuinely

·  Be honest, to yourself and to others

·  Help others

·  Embrace your past, live in the present, and look forward for what is yet to come