half full or half empty?

Having got the borrowed 12v fridge on board the boat and thinking that this will be so much better, I have been disappointed. The thermostat doesn't work so I have to turn it off when I'm away from the boat for any length of time. Yesterday I forgot and was at work all day. I came back to find my batteries at 11.7v which isn't good at all! Fortunately, prior to this they had been really well charged and so they recovered as I ran the engine all evening. So, I could choose to feel really annoyed and frustrated that yet another fridge solution isn't working out, or feel grateful that the batteries coped with my oversight.

Then on Friday I was really looking forward to having a lazy day off as I haven't been able to veg for ages. A fellow boater mentioned he had bought a machine to test the input / output of his batteries and offered to bring it to test mine. When I opened the engine compartment I found my engine bilge full of water and antifreeze. A hose leading from the engine header tank to the skin tank had split and emptied my engine of coolant. I had to go to a chandlers to buy what I needed and then, with Chris the boater's help, I spent the rest of the day with my head in my engine compartment repairing the leak and then removing most of the water from under my engine. I ended my day off exhausted and filthy.

My choice was to feel really upset that I had no rest 0n my day off, I had incurred extra expense and had burnt my ear on the engine (not many people can boast of that!) Or I could be really grateful that Chris was there to help me and even more that I hadn't run the engine with no water in it! Normally I would have turned it on before I took Bonny for a walk and so would not have known the engine was overheating, but because Chris was going to test my batteries, I had delayed running the engine and also I opened up the engine compartment and so spotted the problem.

It's been really quiet week at work. In fact on Wednesday I took 40p and that was only because I bought a packet of crisps! I find it very boring sometimes and could choose to be miserable about that and look back to the times when my work was fulfilling and exciting and when I had status and it mattered whether I was there or not. Or I could be grateful to have a job that is easy and doesn't take much out of me; a job where I have time to pass the time of day with customers and boaters in lovely surroundings. Also a job where the owner leaves me to it and I have no one telling me what to do (or giving me any praise, criticism or feedback - very good for the continuing death of my ego).

I would like to say that in each of these situations I chose to see the glass as half full rather than half empty. I would like to say this, but it would be a lie! I find it very easy to feel sorry for myself or to lose my temper and swear at the offending fridge / engine / situation. But indulging in the negative emotions doesn't, in the long term, make me feel any better and can even make me resent the life I have chosen. But when I focus on the positive (and I find there always is some positive aspect to any situation), then I am more likely to appreciate the gifts in this new life and that makes me feel happy and grateful. I just wish I could remember this as I throw my toys out again (and again) rather than some time later!