I went back over the editorials I have written over the past couple of years and noticed something interesting (distressing?) – I noticed that there is a distinctly large number of somewhat complainy (I know it is not a word but I am avoiding whiney) rather sombre columns.

I never imagined myself as a negative kind of guy. Usually I tend to drift through life rather oblivious of the darker shades that surround us as I happily assume that in the end, all will be well.

So you can imagine my annoyance at the trend toward negativity I have detected in my writing. While I could defend myself by saying I am merely reflecting the world and our community at large I am painfully aware that the media is largely portrayed as being overtly focused on the negative and I don’t want to feed the stereotype…mostly because the stereotype is true.

I cannot quite bring myself to recommend a Bobby McFarrin “don’t worry be happy” sensibility because, while I appreciate the sentiment, a certain attention to the troubles of the world is what often leads people to engage and seek to transform things.

Still, from time to time it is a good thing to take a step back from the shadows and look at some of the brighter realities around us.

I was in Ontario last weekend for my brother’s wedding. This was definitely a brighter and joyous time. I bring it up because I believe we all need to be reminded that no matter how crumby things seem to get joy has a way of persistently bursting to the surface.

We live in a world that is not simply filled with death and destruction, hate and unhappiness. In this same world there are people getting married, there are children being born, there is art being created, there is laughing, there are town-wide celebrations simply for the sake of celebration (read Winkler Harvest Festival, Morden Block Party and Corn & Apple here). While it may not necessarily be happening to you I am reminded by old John Donne as I have been so often in the past that we are involved in one-another, you and I, humanity and to that end another’s joy should become our own as well.

We don’t have to work hard at finding misery…one need only listen to the news. That being said we are a remarkably industrious bunch when it comes to having the ability to find light in the dark places and I want to advocate for that more than ever now.

Take some time out this week and intentionally look for the good things around you…they are there but sometimes they can only be seen when you take off the dark glasses.

Perhaps the noise of neighbourhood children that so typically annoys you will come through differently as the sound of innocence and play and exuberance. Maybe the neighbours late night party will sound more like a celebration and bring a smile to your face instead of a scowl for the knowledge that celebration is a good thing.

This is an abundant way of thinking and the best thing about an abundant person is that they tend to have more than they need and they start spilling joy into other people’s lives making a beautiful, wonderful mess that you never want to clean up.

It’s worth a shot I think.