It’s funny how an optimist, such as myself, can find a silver-lining to even some of the worst experiences of their life. We’re annoying like that. We look for [and always manage to find] the good in people, in bad situations, and at the lowest points of despair, tragedy, or anguish.

For example, when I lost my father in October 2006 – just a few months before my wedding – that was a pretty low point in my life. It was very difficult for me to deal with daily life, nonetheless find positivity amongst the flood of emotions raging in my heart: anger, grief, guilt, just to name a few.

And yet, I found a pearl among the ashes – something I could cling to, embrace, and find my strength in. Through my father’s passing, the relationship with my mother, which had been frictional and unstable for several years, was resurrected, renewed, and repaired.

All of the superficial animosity I had clung to from my teenage years was dropped, the facade caved; our relationship could truly heal. Through the lowest point of my life, the loss of my father, I regained my mother.

With that in mind, I accept the bad days. I accept the melancholy that pervades my heart, though I must admit it’s less often than most, and welcome the fact that I’m not always going to wake up with a smile on my face and sunshine streaming through the windows. It’s ok. From the dark, I will find the light. I will draw inspiration from these situations, because I know that there is a positive – somewhere – if I search hard enough for it.

I believe in the power of positive thought. I believe in “faking it til I make it.” I believe in self-fulfilling prophecies and controlling your own happiness. You know where I’m going here, folks…

I choose to smile,

~ Victoria Elizabeth Ann