It’s the only way to be Joss.
I was in the depth of despair back in January 2021, when I had been isolating myself for months due to fears about Covid and co-morbidities. I actually got to the stage where I thought that if I didn’t wake up in the morning it would be a blessing.
It’s not the kind of thing that we like to talk about, but I made myself a promise at that time that I would celebrate the fact that I was still alive on a daily basis. It took me months after that to become confident enough to get out there and live each day, but as you say “I always try to be cheerful”.
It really does work …. I’m no longer trying to be the person I used to be when I was fit and able. Instead I’m happy to make the most of what I can be.
As I mentioned on another thread earlier today, I haven’t been out once during this freezing spell because I’m being pragmatic. A friend died recently after a fall in which she broke her hip, was admitted to hospital and very sadly died after complications. That makes me take precautions to try and safeguard myself, but it doesn’t dim my determination to get as much out of each day as I can.
I’m definitely not a grump, in fact I’m probably annoyingly happy and optimistic.