I hope your summer is going better than planned. With longer days, the workload has been ramping up here – but that isn’t a complaint. With extended hours of daylight, I’m inclined to go out and enjoy the company of others. Last week I overheard someone say that though it’s just now July, for them, summer was basically over. If your schedule revolves around the educational calendar, that might seem true. Despite a pretty soggy start, weather-wise we still have eight more weeks (and if fall is warm, possibly twelve!) before the shift begins to considerably cooler temperatures.

“Why are you talking about the weather?” you might ask. Believe it or not, there was a time when I allowed the weather to rule my life. Ridiculous, right? I admit to getting a big vitamin D boost when sunshine is plentiful, maybe it’s our wiring. I’m no longer the person that rails against cloudy days or becomes depressed because it’s raining. I have no control over the weather. So why let something I have no control of, dictate my mood?

I do have control over my attitude. I can set the mood for my day with positive affirmations and a different focus. Usually it begins when I am ready to go to bed. Before going to sleep, I set the tone for the next day. “No matter what the day looks like, I’m waking up joyful, excited and expectant, ready to face the day. I wake up fully rested and refreshed with a positive attitude. “When I focused on how I wanted to wake up, what kind of day I wanted to have I gained a different level of control over the quality of my days.

Circumstances aren’t a good predictor or attitude.

What does it take to be happy? What affects your attitude? I’d been looking at the wrong things. I was responsible for my attitude. That helped me realize the ball is in my court! Every day I choose what I think and believe. My responses can change. My thinking can change. And those two things can change my circumstances.

My reentry into the work force was to mitigate the upcoming loss of my then husband’s unemployment benefits. He’d already been out of work for two years. Despite this, I had bigger reasons for working. It was my first job after a decade-plus absence from the workforce.

The new job only covered so much, and though the timeslot was problematic, I was grateful for work. From 11am to 8pm May through September, I sat in a cubicle farm reading a computer screen. As a summer person, giving up my favorite season was an enormous sacrifice. Summer or no, I needed to be there.

It would turn out to be one of the most beautiful summers in years, loads of sun, great breezes with picture-perfect weather that idyllic summer memories are made from. My very soul ached to be outside enjoying it. I could have driven myself crazy bemoaning my situation, reminding myself (and anyone who’d listen) this is time we’ll never get back.  I could have become a fountain of caustic remarks, letting everyone know how much I was giving up every day.

However, home life was already hectic. The husband was furious that I’d taken a job. It put a dent in his narrative that “We’re going to be living in the street.” It was a nightmare chapter he seemed happy to add to our boulder-y marriage (rocks don’t do it justice).

The first weeks in the job were agonizing. I could have been depressed being in two environments I didn’t really want to be a part of. However, it seemed stupid to complain. Instead, I shifted my focus to making the beautiful weather the best part of my day. Out the window of the office, I noticed a walking trail leading in two directions. Going for walks twice or three times a day helped clear my head. I ate lunch outside, wrote in my journal and focused on whatever good I could think of.

I thanked God that the pay kept us afloat. The work wasn’t hard but it required attention to detail. I changed my diet to maintain focus for extended periods of time. I felt great and even lost weight. These habits, seeking the good and being grateful, served me well in the following years.

Midway through summer, payday became firing day. Every two weeks they culled their ranks. Instead of complaining, I envisioned the ideal job, workplace, hours and multiple streams of income. Ideas presented themselves, some feasible some not, but I entertained them all. Soon, I found comradery with other “non-conformists” creating their own jobs and living out their dreams.

When I was let go in the early fall, another job opened up within days. A 9 to 5 job with bonuses, a semi- private office with a view, and a pay increase. I still wasn’t where I wanted to be, but that job was another invaluable stepping stone. I had already begun working my plan and listing my goals.

What does this mean for you?

Creating a viable writing business was still a few years down the road. I chose to be grateful for what was working. Looking at myself, what’s working? Being grateful helped me figure out my strengths, what hours I wanted, what talents I could market and build on them. Growth opportunities appeared at important crossroads. With those came different people and influences. Working in public facing jobs helped me hone personal communication skills which I still use. Through working in small business environments, I learned nuances of running my own.

Maybe you’re in a tough environment right now. What’s good about it? What does it give you, or allow you to do that’s important to you? Maybe it’s the flex time or the pay structure, or even interactions with clients.

What skills are you learning that translate into potential future benefit? I didn’t like working cold calls, but it gave me the ability to talk to anyone in a moment’s notice and establish common ground quickly. What immediate benefits outweigh the negative aspects? Is it the pay, growth opportunities, or bonuses? One man stayed in his demanding job because he was allowed a 30-day vacation every year. I wanted a job that was so fun I didn’t need to take a vacation every year.

If you’re not working in your ideal job today, count your blessings. Find a way to be grateful for what you currently have, you’ll be surprised to see what opens up in the coming weeks. Begin envisioning what your days could look like. and count your daily blessings in the meantime.

Drop your comments in the box below! I’d love to hear about your challenges and victories.