The Habit of Perennial Gladness

"Gladness is Perennial. --- Now, if we have made it clear to ourselves that there is in each of us a foundation of Gladness, not an intermittent but a perennial spring, enough and to spare for every moment of every year of the longest life, not to be checked by sorrow, pain, or poverty, but often flowing with the greater force and brightness because of these obstructions; if we are quite sure that this golden Gladness is not our own private property, but is meant to enrich the people we pass in the street, or live with in the house, or work with or play with, we shall be interested to discover why it is that people go about with a black dog on their shoulder, the cloud of gloom on their brow; why there are people heavy in movement, pale of countenance, dull and irresponsive.  You will wish to find out why it is that children may go to a delightful party, picnic, haymaking, or what not, and carry a sullen countenance through all the fun and frolic; why young people may be taken to visit here or travel there, and the most delightful scenes might be marked with a heavy black spot in the map of their memories, because they found no gladness in them; why middle-aged people sometimes go about with sad and unsmiling countenances; why the aged sometimes find their lot all crosses and no joys.  

"This question of gladness or sadness has little to do with our circumstances.  It is true that we should do well to heed the advice of Marcus Aurelius: 'Do not let your head run upon that which is none of your own, but pick out some of the best of your circumstances, and consider how eagerly you would wish for them were they not in your possession.'"

--Charlotte Mason, Ourselves (emphasis mine)

....a good reminder from my current reading.  Circumstances come and go, but gladness and gratitude may stay no matter what is happening in the circumstances of one's life.  That's not to say that we can't be sad when we suffer losses or feel down about a situation.  That's not to say that we shouldn't seek help when we are too depressed to get out of bed or function in daily life. That's not to say that we can't have a gloomy disposition on a tired or hard day.  But it is to say that "looking on the bright side" is, more than anything else, a habit that is cultivated over time.  

My neighbor has a quote on her wall: there is always something to be thankful for.  

And I think that's true.