Brightdom

This morning I got a great compliment from a total stranger. I am addicted to McDonalds Oatmeal. I don’t like the fruit in it though. Throws off the consistency. Anyway, I go through the drive thru in Checotah fairly often. Today when the lady handed me my oatmeal she said “ are you always so happy? This threw me for a minute because if you know me well, you know there is a small window of time during the day (from the time I wake up to the time I have had a least 2 cups of coffee) that I am grumpy. I don’t want to talk to anyone, I have no witty comments and I am in my own little world. So when she said that I said, “you’re being sarcastic right?” No,she said. I love to see your bright yellow car pull up because you are just…….she paused for a few seconds and said Brightdom.

I don’t think that’s a word. But it felt good to know that a total stranger looked forward to seeing my happy self. If she only knew. I’m just warming up at that time of day. She might find my “brightdom” quite annoying by the end of the day. Sometimes, I can be a little overwhelming. At least that’s what my ex-husband said. But then he was kinda my morning personality 23 hours a day. LOL And just so you know, I resisted the urge to tell her that brightdom isn’t a word.

Funny too because this morning I woke up in one of those “woe is me” type moods. Paying bills last night including the Speeding ticket wasn’t exactly uplifting. Andy’s dog loves me but he’s obviously missing Andy and that makes me feel sad, a good friend and I have had a difference of opinion and I haven’t been able to talk to him and work through it, a new “relationship” has some complications involved. I’m still exhausted from my Austin trip, work has a million pressures right now as we are short-staffed. The heat is affecting my desire to walk though I have pressed on. The weight is not coming off as fast as I want it to…..wah, wah, wah. Get out the violins.

Realizing that my demeanor can affect and be noticed by a total stranger made me realize how important it is that I take care of myself and do my best to not let the pressures of everyday life take away my natural joy. I know I am blessed. I have a wonderful family, I have raised 2 fine upstanding young men that I am very proud of,I have a beautiful daughter in law that I couldn’t love more, I have a job that I love, a hobby that I’m passionate about (that would be the comedy though writing is also pretty fun), I have friends that love and support me, a Church that I love and a new “friendship” that gives me reason to smile. And that’s just the big stuff.

My nephew Eric (also a blessing) tagged me with the nickname Elan several years ago. He couldn’t say LeeAnn and said Elan instead. When I found out while doing a crossword puzzle one day that Elan means a zest for life, an intense devotion to something or someone, it meant even more to me because in so many ways that characterizes my personality. A lot of my close friends and family call me Elan now and it never fails to make me feel loved when they do. Its an affectionate nickname. It makes my heart smile.

I hope to never lose that Elan. It is that part of me that witnesses to others. My faith, my hope, my life experiences good and bad, my goals, my dreams are all wrapped up in this person I am. My mother once said that God spoke to her and said “your name is Betty on earth, but my name for you is Joy”. I am so grateful that she passed that joy for life, that unshakeable faith, that smiling spirit, that ability to bounce back from the disappointments in life with an even stronger resolve to press on…to me.

I have found my inner Brightdom. It may take a couple of cups of coffee and a comment from a stranger to make me realize my blessings and go about my day with an inner peace and happiness that radiates but that’s not a lot to ask for. I am truly, truly blessed.