Anyway

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
be kind anyway.

If you are successful you will win some false friends and true enemies;
succeed anyway.

If you are honest people may cheat you;
be honest anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

(You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway).

-Kent Keith
(-Mother Theresa addendum)

Smiling through frustrations

If there's one thing I've learned about surviving the dismal state of our economy (and the 10% unemployment rate), it's that being anything less than optimistic is futile. Even when my frustration threatens to erupt, I check my attitude at the door. Or the log-in screen.

Frustration: I've filled out about a bajillion job applications.
Optimism: I could plant a virtual rain forest with the paper I've saved by filling them out online.

Frustration: My left wrist is chronically numb from the tension in my neck and shoulders.
Optimism: My massage therapist is amazing. Or, when I'm in a financial pinch (like now, for instance), my dad is a pretty awesome substitute. So is my BedBuddy heating pad.

Frustration: My increasingly pessimistic sense of despair.
Optimism: My smile.

Studies have shown that smiling is beneficial to your health, and not just because it's the universal symbol for happiness. Smiling can literally boost your mood because it releases endorphins (aka "happy brain chemicals").
Knowing this, I decided to do an experiment during my many tedious hours filling out applications. By the time I came up with the idea I had been filling out applications for hours, so I was good and grumpy.
So I pulled up the next online form, smiling big. It felt weird at first because I was in the wrong mood for jubilation, but after a few moments I noticed something interesting.
My shoulders had relaxed.
My eyes were less squinty.
I felt calmer.
Optimism had piggy-backed the endorphins, and my foul mood had lifted.
Not entirely, of course. I wasn't any more enthusiastic about finishing the application. But the smile had facilitated the necessary attitude adjustment to keep me dedicated to my task. As an added incentive I played some Springsteen, because listening to "my boyfriend" always makes me smile. Listening to music is known to have mood-boosting effects, as well.

Next time you are feeling discouraged, frustrated, or grouchy, I encourage you smile. Smile like you mean it, even if you don't. Your endorphins are gullible, they'll fall for it. Whether it's an all-day exercise or just long enough for you to get through a daunting task, smiling will make you feel better.
In the words of Nike: Just Do It. Smile through your frustrations. You'll thank me later. And your well-being will thank you.
Trust me.