"YOU Are the Person in the Front Seat of Your Car"

This morning, I was driving to work down the barren, windy highway on my way to Cheyenne, WY.  The recording in my head went something like this: "I do not want to go to work today.  It is cold and windy and I'm drained and I could be using this time for anything else. Im tired of hearing other people's problems when I cant even handle my own.  How can I possibly be helping them when I cant help myself? Why is my commute so long? Why does it feel like my car is going to blow off the road? WHY ARE THERE SO MANY TUMBLEWEEDS?!"

Suddenly, I stopped.  Not literally, because there was probably a semi barreling down I-25 behind me,  but I caught myself and thought, "Whoa Britt. Hang on a second.  You have a job.  You have a paycheck.  You have a car to get you to said job.  You have so much. Why cant you be happy?" It got me thinking about perspective.  I am so "woe is me" so much of the time.  I am wrapped up in what I dont have: a bigger paycheck, my own house, a newer car, a shorter commute.  I rarely take the time to shift my perspective on what I do have: my family and friends, my education, my job, my (relatively speaking, of course) health.  Why is my perspective constantly so negative? And, how do I change it?

And then, I saw this:
http://shockable.com/called-worlds-ugliest-girl-response-unbelievably-beautiful-literally-cried/

WOW. What an incredible testimony to taking control of your own life.  I am not sure any of us would blame her if she was down and out, but she chose happiness. No one would have blamed her for being reclusive, depressed, or negative, but she chose happiness. And because she chose happiness, she accomplished her goals, despite being dealt a less-than-ideal hand.

Are some people hardwired to choose happiness or to look on the bright side while others tend to see the glass as half empty?  Probably.  Probably some nature vs. nurture shit coming into play somewhere.  But, can those people who are more negatively charged change and become one of those glass half full people? Can I change?