The Journey: Choices, choices and even more choices

By SAMANTHA BRAZIE, Special to The Paper

Friends, today you’re going to read about something that every one of us has (whether we believe we do or not) – choices. Did you know that it is estimated that the average adult makes about 35,000 somewhat conscious decisions every day? Whether you are intentionally or actively making those choices, is completely up to you. 

Writing this at 6 a.m., I’ve probably already made at least 100 choices … most of which I don’t remember. I decided to wake up, to take a shower, what clothes to put on, to check my email from bed, what shoes to wear for walkability that work with my outfit, if I really need to go to the networking event on my calendar or have a complete office day (which I really need), to stop at Starbucks for a triple espresso to mix into my protein drink for breakfast, to be sitting at my computer writing this column right now … the list goes on and on. 

Lately I’ve been thinking about and doing some inside work about big picture choices that every single one of us has. The choice to continue to work at a job, the choice to continue to choose your spouse and the choice to be happy. That’s right, the CHOICE to be happy. Every second of every minute of every hour of every day of every year, you decide (consciously or unconsciously) your degree of happiness. 

Let’s not also underestimate the power of the butterfly effect. For those unfamiliar, the butterfly effect is the theory that even tiny actions such as the flapping of a butterfly’s wings can result in big events such as massive storms. The way I think about it is that my negative attitude or half-thought-out response could have a negative impact on someone else, whether I intended that or not. So, even when I’m having a bad day, I try my very best to make other people feel like I care. Because at the end of the day, I do. But one bad day or negative interaction from me can really affect the way someone else’s day or moment goes … and I’m not ok with that. That’s a choice I make every day, intentionally. 

So, I want to encourage you. Be aware, be thoughtful, be in control of the only thing you are capable of being in control of – you. Prioritize your decisions instead of being reactionary to other people, develop your own core values and learn from bad decisions. Don’t repeat things that don’t serve you well. Decide. Be intentional. Love yourself enough through your Journey – the good, bad and the ugly. What the rest of that looks like is up to you. 

“At every moment, we always have a choice, even if it looks like we don’t. Sometimes that choice may simply be to think a more positive thought.” – Tina Turner