You know what’s hard sometimes? All these new buzzwords floating around—toxic positivity, ghosting, triggers—I swear, half the time I feel like I need a decoder ring just to talk to people under 30. I’m almost 60, and we didn’t grow up dissecting every emotion or labeling every little thing as “toxic” or “triggering.” We just… felt it, dealt with it, maybe called a friend, and moved on. So when I hear someone say, “Don’t be so positive, that’s toxic positivity,” I’m like, “Wait… what? Since when is being positive a bad thing?” and or "TOXIC"?????
Then I phone a friend to vent and instead of hearing, "that stinks". I hear "Oh - is Miss Positivity upset?" UM YES!
The truth is, I’m positive because I’ve been through some things. Life has knocked me around, and I’ve learned that joy is something you create, not something you wait for. But I’m also human, and that means I still get frustrated, annoyed, and even downright cranky sometimes—like today, with my package drama.
It’s Monday. Which usually means new beginnings, fresh iced coffee, and paint under my nails by 10 a.m. But today? Today I’m waiting not so patiently by the door like a golden retriever waiting for the mailman. The reason? A package. A very important package.
Tonight I’m teaching one of my favorite creative journal classes—Life’s A Beach—at a local library, and my box of kits? MIA. Floating around the mysterious vortex that is the UPS system.
I called. Three times. Spoke to real people. Explained my need for this box full of summer joy. Tried to reroute it. And that’s when I learned that making a change to a delivery takes TWO days to process. TWO DAYS. Like… by the time the change goes through, the class would be over, the library lights turned off, and I’ll be home binge-watching Brookly 99 with an iced coffee in hand.
Now, if you know me, you know I’m a pretty positive person. ( and there is nothing TOXIC about it) I teach art because I believe in its power to spark joy, lower stress, and build confidence—even if you’ve never held a paintbrush in your life. However, life is NOT all paint, glue and creativity. Of course I get annoyed, impatient, and frustrated!!! I do. Like right now. I could scream into the void… or I could do what I’ve learned to do after years of painting, crafting, and parenting:
Pause. Breathe. Problem-solve. Laugh if possible. And keep creating.
Because honestly, I’ve learned that joy isn’t just found when everything goes right—it's found in how we handle the moments when things go sideways.
So, here’s what I’m reminding myself (and maybe you need this too):
✨ It’s okay to feel frustrated.
✨ It’s okay to care deeply about what you do.
✨ And it’s absolutely okay to want things to run smoothly—but also roll with it when they don’t.
Tonight, if the kits show up, amazing. If they don’t? I’ll pivot. I’ll use what I have. I’ll guide my group through the journal using heart, humor, and some extra beachy vibes. Because the truth is—art doesn’t need to be perfect to be powerful. And hey, neither do we.
Just head over and SUBSCRIBE to my Youtube Channel and you will see that! Nothing perfect there! 
Whether you’re waiting on a package, running late, or dealing with some unexpected hiccups of your own this week, I hope you find a little peace in knowing you're not alone. And maybe a little joy in getting messy, making something with your hands, and letting go of what you can’t control.
Now, excuse me while I refresh my tracking link for the 47th time. 😅
Stay joyful,
💛 Teresa
1 comment
I’m praying it all falls into place my friend! The papers need to show up, like you do !❤️