Ever hear anyone say “It’s a good day to be happy?” That saying could really apply to any day of the week. But let’s look at Monday as an example. Most people hate Mondays. It’s the start of the week, no one wants to go back to work, and if you’re like Garfield, Mondays can bite you back.

I used to hate Mondays. Even now, Mondays can be tough. Every now and then, though, things go well. Traffic parts and I’m on time, I have my coffee and it’s piping hot, and I’ have enough food to get me through the day. While your list of happy things may be different, yours can happen on Mondays too.

When I was younger, I would be what you could call a negative child. Pessimist was the name of the game and never thought things were good. I literally felt like the world was against me. I told myself I was being realistic. This was my way of looking at the world. Now I just laugh because I think I was trying to offer my younger self protection.

Over time, I have learned that it’s good to be happy. It’s even better to choose happy. Especially in a sea of people that like to see negatively. Now I can easily see the brighter side of things. The world isn’t as dark as it used to be. I’m so glad I see it this way now because I’ve learned that being happy is physically good for your health. In 2012, Julia Boehm of Harvard Public Health found that people with a better sense of well-being tend to have healthier blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight. People that fall into this category also tend to exercise, eat healthy, get enough sleep, and avoid smoking.

So you see… It IS good to be happy! Do you fall into this category of people? While more research definitely needs to be done, it seems like being happy is the place to be. And if you’re not in a total state of bliss, it’s ok, neither am I. But every day, work a little more and try a little harder to get there.