My one week home is almost over, and what a week it’s been. It has ended on a high note, but it didn’t really start out that way. In my first few days home my emotions were running wild. Phantom cats, less than stellar high school memories, and an overwhelming feeling of being dragged backwards in time left me feeling agitated and grumpy. I tried to smile, but then I would sleep in until 11am and feel in an even worse mood. Sure, I was adjusting to a four hour time difference (Sackville, NS being 4 hours ahead of Vancouver BC) and so was staying up late – but getting up late always leaves me feeling drowsy the rest of the day. I began feeling extremely guilty for being so unpleasant to be around, and my guilt made me feel even angrier.

Then I stumbled upon a quote that someone had posted to Facebook:

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness”

I saw this quote on Saturday, and it really stuck with me. As the day progressed, I gradually began to feel a little bit better. The dark cloud that had been hanging over my head started to get blown away. I also started thinking a lot about the steps I’d written in my last blog post about overcoming workaholism. I just checked the dates, and realized I published this on Saturday, so I guess the dates all add up.

Well I decided that I was going to make  change, and Sunday morning I got up early, exercised, did some work, and had a coffee. By the time the rest of my family got up I was in excellent spirits. Something in my brain had clicked on, and I felt like an entirely different person. The result of this change? I’ve had an amazing vacation with my family, and actually feel a little sad to leave. I feel rejuvenated, alive, and inspired – ready to jump right back into my work again when I return home.

So what have I done on this vacation? (I’m leaving out Wednesday and Friday because I honestly don’t remember)

Thursday – my sister’s 21st birthday, and my brother’s graduation from high school (he won the governor general’s medal for academic achievement). We went out with my dad (who I have not seen in 6 years) for dinner after, and I got drunk off 3 heaping glasses of red wine. Graceful, I know.

Saturday I went out with my Mom to have our nails done. I feel guilty that my mood wasn’t better at that point, but I was trying. I then did a step class at the local gym (I pretended that I lived here in order to get a free week. I feel guilty, I swear). After that my mom’s boyfriend took us out for a nice Chinese dinner. I struggled all day to keep my mood up, but I didn’t really succeed. I think it’s when I got home that night that I wrote that blog post – leading into an awesome remaining 3 days of vacation.

Sunday (the day of the turn around) got some writing done, hung out with one of my good friends from high school,  had a delicious lobster dinner with my mom and sister, and hung out and played cards with my brother and his lovely girlfriend until late.

Monday I got up early again, started working on an e-book, wrote an article for examiner.com on building mental strength for running, went to the gym with my sister, made lunch for my mom and myself, later made dinner for my mom and sister (spaghetti squash pasta with a side salad), and then had a girls night out with my mom and sister to see Monster’s University

Tuesday (today) I got up early again, did some work on my one-act play, went to the rock climbing gym with my brother and sister for three and a half hours, had a delicious chicken dinner at home, went out with some friends from university, and now I’m home writing this.

Tomorrow I’m getting up early and doing a spin class with my sister at 6am. That being said, I should probably get to bed.

So what’s the moral of this post? I guess that there is no point in being unhappy. That quote is so true, and because I changed my mind set I’ve created so many amazing memories that I will cherish for a long time.

Life is short. Live it large. Live it happy.