Unexpected Positive Occurences (UPOs)

The reason that Unexpected Positive Occurences are so important to me is that they remind me that life often turns out to be far more positive than I assume it will. Noticing the positive things that actually happen despite my sometimes dire expectations helps me to remember that lots of things in my life do go well. So even when things are a bit stressful or life throws a curly one at me, I can be comforted by the thought that at any time, out of the blue, something really nice could happen.

Like the other day when I stopped to walk the dog at a reserve we both like. When we got there we had the large grassy area to ourselves. As the dog romped and I walked sedately beside the stream under the budding trees another car drew up. Out of it climbed a woman and a huge brown and black dog. They walked the opposite way to us but then we both turned so we were on a collision course. I put my dog back on the chain. As we neared she called out ‘she’s quite friendly’ and I replied ‘my dog is well socialised’. We let them do the doggy small talk of sniffing each other, then when they behaved well let them off their leads to romp around. The two dogs had a wonderful time splashing through the stream and bounding over the grass. The two humans also got on well and had a great chat. In the end we exchanged cards and agreed we’d meet again at the reserve to walk our dogs some other day.

As I drove away I reflected on how totally unpredicted that pleasant meeting had been. No one had ever so much as spoken to me at the reserve before. It gave me a warm glow thinking of all the unexpected positive things that might be just about to happen to me.