Every day following the first bell, my elementary school principal would make her way to the intercom to remind us of one thing, saying “make it a great day, or not, the choice is yours.” Still able to recollect the ebbs and flow of her voice in unison with inflection, I have carried this advice with me ever since my last day of fifth grade. Despite how annoying it felt to my younger self, knowing exactly what she was going to say every day of the school year, I found it almost comforting. While losing significance to me then with each passing day I heard the expression ring throughout the entirety of the school, I can say now that I value those 11 little words that have been the source of so many jokes. 

Being a believer in an internal locus of control, I find this expression to ring true as every moment of every day I am faced with a choice. Whether it be as simple as making my bed in the morning or deciding which college to attend, my state of mind is dependent upon how I respond to these stimuli. With that being said, I have no control over what happens to me, however, I am in charge of how I react to each situation. Regardless if I empower myself to take the high road, when oftentimes the low road is more appealing, or if I decide to choose happiness over jealousy and anger, I am the author of my life as my reactions are metaphorically my books. 

Easily creating a cascade effect, one negatively impactful decision can be the source of the downfall of my day or even week. Knowing how to structure my emotions and shift my ways of thinking to elicit more positive repercussions has been key to implementing this piece of advice into my daily life, specifically transforming my relationship with my mother. Holding so many similarities in our personalities, it has also been very easy for us to find ourselves in heated arguments. As one begins to raise their voice, the other follows suit within seconds, creating a storm of frustration and annoyance to hang above our heads for the rest of the day. Growing into a more mature version of myself, I have learned to stop and take into consideration the way I release my emotions and the effect they will have on the situation. 

In any given circumstance that presses my buttons, I think back to these 11 words. Offering words of wisdom that remind me to choose happiness, the expression remains thoughtfully placed on my right shoulder depicting the inner conflict of my character. Reese Witherspoon, a famous American actress and entrepreneur, was thinking along the same lines when she said “every day you have to choose and cultivate your own happiness.”