Opinion

Hmmm. Do you feel valued and appreciated? By whom? What is more priceless than the feeling that you truly matter to someone? Other than eating chocolate, of course. Then again, the flavonoids, theobromine, and caffeine in chocolate are known to improve alertness and mental skills. Heck, nobody knows the truffles I’ve seen. You know what they say: Chocolate is G-d’s apology for broccoli.  Truthfully, feeling appreciated or highly regarded lifts you up and spurs you on like little else.

What do we need to “live happily ever after”? And what is your journey between “Once upon a time” and “Happily ever after”?  Some relationships start with “Can we talk?” and end with “We need to talk.” You don’t want to be one of those. If you bring tons of baggage into your friendship or love relationship, it may end up being a very short trip. Are you headed for troubled waters?

Sure, we all want a healthy body, but how healthy is your mind? You’re eating your veggies and pounding the gym, but what have you done lately to ensure that you are emotionally sound? So, you’re on a health kick, eh? You decided to stop using the drive-through at the hamburger joint. You’re just gonna park the car and walk in. Sheesh. Does your diet plan let you use rollover calories? Which came first: the chicken salad or the egg salad? Yes, its three meals a day, but how many should you eat at night? Uh, oh. But seriously, 95 percent of your serotonin comes from your gut, so please toss that salad.

“Think positive.” Wow. Did you read the latest and greatest motivational, inspirational quote of the day? Imagine the finest, foremost, and first-rate scenario in your mind, and it shall come to pass. Believe it or not, positive thinking can even boost your memory. Y’all know I’m the kind of person who keeps things in a safe place – then forgets the safe place. My mantra is: “I came. I saw. I forgot what I was doing.” But truthfully, a positive outlook reduces anxiety, and even promotes physical health.

Speaking your mind is easy. Speaking it tactfully? Not so much. Are you offended by the easily offended? Want to join the Victimhood Olympics? Once upon a time, we were able to differ and dissent naturally, openly, and even publicly. After all, don’t we all have different perspectives and points of view? Dialogue used to involve give and take without getting annoyed, angry, irked, and irritated with anyone who disagreed with us.

If you feel like you give up way to easily, go easy on yourself. The fact is that we humans are guided by what is known as the “pleasure principle.” We want instant gratification instantly. Then again, instant gratification is not soon enough. We don’t care to be part of the process. We simply wish to be part of the outcome. The truth is that when you delay that instantaneous and prompt pleasure, you can then experience long-term satisfaction.