"I don't wanna!!"

Do you ever wake up in the morning and just think "I don't wanna?"  I don't wanna get out of bed. I don't wanna go to work. I don't wanna talk to anybody. I don't wanna do anything. Well, I sure do!

I don't wanna pick up dog toys.
I don't wanna unload the dishwasher.
I don't wanna do laundry.
I don't wanna balance the checkbook.
I don't wanna call _____________.
I don't wanna exercise.
I don't wanna eat right.
I don't wanna go to work.
I don't wanna file paperwork.
I don't wanna cook dinner...again.
I don't wanna get out in the snow, rain, cold, heat, wind...take your pick!
...I don't wanna be happy today...

I think this last one is often, for me, what this is all about. I don't want to try to be happy today. I'd just like to wallow in the muck for today. Hold a pity party. Nurse my wounds. Refuse to smile. Refuse to even try.

Luckily, as a half-full type person, I don't live in this "I don't wanna" place too much. But I do visit. Sometimes I visit the land of "I don't wanna" on a daily basis. Sometimes a couple times a day.  But I cant' live there, even if, in my heart, I really wanted to, and thankfully, in my heart, I don't really want to even visit there.

So...

I do what I can
I put on a happy face
I pull myself up by my bootstraps
I look on the bright side
I count my blessings
I stop to smell the roses
I remember those who are less fortunate
I think of all the starving children...

Sometimes, all it takes to pull me out of "I don't wanna" is watch my puppy play w/ my grandpuppy for a minute. Or open the door and take a breath, a really deep breath, of fresh air. Or text my kids that I love them. Or hug my husband. Or smile at a child, or an elder, or just a stranger. Sometimes it's noticing the robins are here, or the first bee of the season was loving on the flowers on the casket.

Sometimes it's just closing my eyes, giving heartfelt thanks, and then opening my eyes, putting a smile on my face, and doing exactly what "I don't wanna!"