ARE YOU ALL MESSED UP?

It’s way easier to change yourself than to change the entire world.

The economy is messed up. The virus is messed up. The government is messed up. The environment is messed up. The media is messed up. My boss is messed up. My eyes are messed up. The weather is messed up. My car is messed up. Injustice is messed up. My education is messed up. My looks are messed up. My health is messed up. My taxes are messed up. The price of essentials is messed up. My income is messed up. My neighbors are messed up. My competitors are messed up. Democrats are messed up. Republicans are messed up. My height is messed up. Drugs are messed up. My competitors are messed up. My in-laws are messed up. Alcohol is messed up. Sugar is messed up. Fast food is messed up. Stray dogs are messed up. Capitalism is messed up. Socialism is messed up. Politicians are messed up. Drunk drivers are messed up. Rich people are messed up. Poor people are messed up. Mean people are messed up. Internet trolls are messed up. Criminals are messed up. Cancer is messed up. Guns are messed up. Roe V. Wade is messed up. Interest rates are messed up. The cost of housing is messed up. My hearing is messed up. The cost of insurance is messed up. Hospital fees are messed up. And why are there so many armadillos around here?

Guess what? This is the world in which we live. We can spend our time focused on negativity by fruitlessly trying to change it, or we can find the good amidst the chaos and succeed. It’s way easier to change yourself than to change the entire world.

When my family and I moved to southeast Missouri, twenty years ago, there was no need for a nice magazine or marketing company—but we felt compelled to start one. So instead of spending our time trying to change the area, we simply adapted to what was already here: beautiful parks, crystal clear water, hiking trails, interesting people, and freedom. We accepted the local economy. We accepted the local people. We accepted the local government. We even accepted the armadillos. We went to work doing what we know to do—we used our discipline, our positive attitude, and our ability to accept things as they are.

So instead of spending our time trying to change the area, we simply adapted to what was already here: beautiful parks, crystal clear water, hiking trails, interesting people, and freedom.

We focused on ignoring the negativity and changing our lives and habits, not changing the entire world. That is the secret to happiness—but don’t tell anyone, it really makes some people mad.

We even accepted the armadillos.

So, get out there!—a happy plea from das Editor. (das means "the") See, you are catching on already.