A brief interaction with a homeless man this summer changed my perspective on life. After a conversation in New Orleans with Windex Pete I bid him great day in which he quickly replied “I ain’t ever had a bad day baby”. His optimism has lingered in my mind for months.

Whether or not there was any actual truth to his mantra, the conviction in his voice was enough to convince me that throughout life’s ups and downs— Pete had never in fact had a bad day.

I haven’t been as fortunate. Life has, plenty of times, wrapped bullshit up in pretty packaging and handed it over to me. Gracefully, I accepted her misfortunes and have allowed them to ruin otherwise perfect days.

As 2016 dwindles to an end, the “new year new you” thoughts have sparked. I am challenging myself to adapt Pete’s outlook on life— never again will I have a bad day. Mishaps will inevitably happen, but how unfortunate is it to spoil an entire 24 hours due to a few moments of adversity. Life is too grand to ever revel in its awfulness— this is a vow to myself to bask in its beauty & to stop allowing 5 minutes of rain dull my sunshine.

If a man without a home can never have a bad day, surely a woman with the world at her fingertips can manage to always have a good one.