Your Totem Pole
Recently I was asked how I am so happy all the time. At first I thought, “isn't everybody?” I found that apparently this question stayed in my mind until it was finally resolved. At 2:36 a.m. I woke with a perhaps life-changing “aha moment.”
Growing up my life wasn’t perfect but you sure could not tell me that. I was one of the happiest polka-dotted jumpsuit wearing little girls that I can remember. Even though psychology does say that as situations are reflected on, one views them as better than they were. However that's neither here nor there --I had an awesome childhood! I was taught to make the best of situations, so I did. Still today co-workers unintentionally remind me that I continue to view most situations like that. I view life through rose-colored glasses.
The study of psychology or maybe I was in biology class or the like, I remember it being mentioned that at a certain point in life, your emotional high becomes a few notches lower (okay so maybe that was when referring to depression, but bare with me) and I do notice how it does not take a lot to bring joy to many life-experienced individuals. It seems almost intuitive that as one grows older, many things in life naturally establish a lower rank on the “excitement totem pole.” The high you once had when going to a children's birthday party with tablecloths, balloons, hats that were all matching and leaving with a party favor as proof that you went to a party and had the best time of your life is something that one grows out of:. That excitement is shifted towards more adult- like, mature activities. Perhaps it's a Scentsy party or heading to the flea market to find a new hunting device. Not being limited to this example, one's levels on a totem pole of excitement, change.
This is the best way for me to answer the question of how I am so happy all the time-- I have been reoriented on my totem pole of excitement!
So I ask myself is this bad? Am I being “fake”? Am I doing something wrong? My answer is no, we are all given different paths in life and as one is given many situations on their path, take each situation and make the best of it :-)!
It is now 4:16 a.m. and I need to get to sleep because Church is in a few hours!
