Thankful Thursdays

There’ll always be someone trying to kill your buzz!

It’s nothing new, but it seems to happen now more than ever with the whole posting-on-social-media thing.

I don’t know, maybe out of jealousy, insecurity, or just because some people can’t help but be critical. I’d like to think it’s because they believe they’re being helpful (yeah, let’s go with that). Sometimes they say your plans don’t make sense, or that your dreams are unrealistic, or this or that won’t work…. My favorite is when they knock the vacation spot I’m excited about [sigh]. Whatever the reason, take it with a grain of salt.

I’ve always told my kids: bring your own sunshine. Porque someone’s always going to have something to say.

Here’s a story that perfectly captures what I mean:

A woman was at her hairdresser’s getting her hair styled for a trip to Rome with her husband..
She mentioned the trip to the hairdresser, who responded:
“Rome? Why would anyone want to go there? It’s crowded and dirty.
You’re crazy to go to Rome. So, how are you getting there?”

“We’re taking Continental,” was the reply. “We got a great rate!”

Continental?” exclaimed the hairdresser. “That’s a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they’re always late. So, where are you staying in Rome?”

“We’ll be at this exclusive little place over on Rome’s Tiber River called Teste.”

“Don’t go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks it’s going to be something special and exclusive, but it’s really a dump.”

“We’re going to go to see the Vatican and maybe get to see the Pope.”

“That’s rich,” laughed the hairdresser. “You and a million other people trying to see him. He’ll look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You’re going to need it.”

A month later, the woman again came in for a hairdo. The hairdresser asked her about her trip to Rome.

“It was wonderful,” explained the woman, “not only were we on time in one of Continental’s brand new planes, but it was overbooked,
and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a handsome 28-year-old steward who waited on me hand and foot..
And the hotel was great! They’d just finished a $5 million remodeling job,
and now it’s a jewel, the finest hotel in the city.
They, too, were overbooked, so they apologized and gave us their owner’s suite at no extra charge!”

“Well,” muttered the hairdresser, “that’s all well and good, but I know you didn’t get to see the Pope.”

“Actually, we were quite lucky, because as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder, and explained that the Pope likes to meet some of the visitors, and if I’d be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me. Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked through the door and shook my hand! I knelt down and he spoke a few words to me..”

“Oh, really! What’d he say?”

He said: “Who screwed up your hair?”  🤣

And that, in a nutshell, my friends, is how you handle the naysayers. There will always be someone trying to rain on your parade, no doubt about it. But the trick is to not let it faze you. People’s opinions, after all, aren’t the map to your journey. More often than not, they’re just noise. So, bring your own sunshine, carry an umbrella just in case, and don’t forget to savor your café! 😊

Today, I’m grateful for the strength and wisdom to tune out the negativity and stay focused on what matters.

What are you thankful for today?

Until next Thursday’s post…si Dios quiere.

“Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.”
-A.J. D’Angelo


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