Glue Sticks and Gratitude
This year, as the calendar flipped to January, my social media feeds became a parade of glittering vision boards. Influencers were wielding glue sticks like wands, conjuring collages of yachts, abs, inspirational quotes in fancy fonts, and that elusive “dream life.” The captions promised me that vision boards weren’t just pretty — they were the key to manifesting everything. Naturally, I thought, why not? If pasting pictures on paper can land me a mansion, count me in.
So, armed with scissors, old magazines, and an inflated sense of possibility, I sat down to map out my year. The results were predictable at first: “work out more,” “save money,” “stop buying clothes you’ll never wear.” But then, out of nowhere, this one sneaky goal emerged: become positive.
Not positive in the “throw out a motivational quote every morning” kind of way. I mean real positivity — the kind that isn’t fazed when your coffee spills, your Wi-Fi dies mid-Zoom call, or your AirPods fall out directly into your bowl of cereal. (Yes, they’re waterproof. No, they’re not milk-proof.)
The problem? Vision boards are great for visualizing a new car, but they don’t exactly explain how to radiate optimism while holding a mop and wondering where you went wrong. So, I asked myself: What does having a positive outlook even mean?
For starters, it’s definitely not about slapping a smile on and pretending everything’s fine when it’s clearly not. That’s toxic positivity, and we’ve all met someone who exclaims “Everything happens for a reason!” while you’re trying to scrape gum off your shoe. A true positive outlook is about embracing life’s chaos without letting it destroy you. It’s about finding humor in disaster, grace in awkwardness, and maybe even joy in unpredictability.
Take traffic jams, for example. Old me would’ve been fuming, muttering about the slow driver in front of me. New me? I roll down the window, sing along to every single cringe-worthy song on my playlist, and decide this is an unscheduled concert for an audience of none.
But let’s not romanticize it. Staying positive isn’t always easy. Sometimes, life throws you curveballs that aren’t just inconvenient — they’re downright unfair. Like that one week where I spilled coffee on my laptop, missed a deadline, and accidentally shared my screen during a Zoom meeting… only to reveal my search history titled “How to fake enthusiasm in a 9 a.m. meeting.” (The awkward silence still haunts me.)
In moments like these, positivity feels impossible. But that’s when I discovered the power of chaotic gratitude. It’s not about being grateful for the disasters themselves — because no one’s thankful for stepping on a Lego — it’s about finding the smallest silver lining. Burnt dinner? Hey, less cooking tomorrow. Spilled water on your work notes? You’ve accidentally Marie Kondo-ed them.
Slowly but surely, I’ve started flexing this positivity muscle, and it’s changed the way I approach life. Now, when my plans fall apart, I don’t sulk; I improvise. A canceled outing? That’s a guilt-free night to binge a terrible rom-com. A rainy day? That’s nature’s excuse to wear my coziest socks and drink three cups of tea. And let’s be real, my tea game has gone next level — I’m talking different blends for different moods, discovering the pure bliss of matcha lattes, and becoming an expert at steeping the perfect cup every time.
And you know what? This whole positivity thing is oddly addictive. The other day, I was watching The Breakfast Club, and it hit me: If a group of high school misfits can spend an entire Saturday together, face their personal demons, and still walk away as better people, then surely I can survive a few social awkwardnesses without imagining I’m the star of a tragic indie film. I mean, if they can bond over a shared love of 80s music and a couple of poorly timed life lessons, I can definitely survive a seminar without resorting to hiding in the library with snacks and an overwhelming sense of dread — especially when the Wi-Fi cuts out mid-presentation.
But here’s the truth: a positive outlook isn’t about never feeling annoyed, upset, or downright miserable. It’s about learning to laugh through those moments and reminding yourself they’re temporary. Life is messy, unpredictable, and occasionally ridiculous, but isn’t that kind of the point?
So here I am, armed with my new perspective and a vision board that’s a little less “yacht life” and a lot more “keeping my cool when my flight inevitably gets delayed.” Will I still have bad days? Absolutely. But now, when life hands me lemons, I don’t just make lemonade — I find a quiet corner, indulge in a cup of tea, and give myself a moment of calm before carrying on. And, in a small way, I hope this mindset gently catches on. Because positivity isn’t about fixing the mess; it’s about accepting it with grace, finding the humor in it, and perhaps inspiring others to do the same.
