Where have all the Original Ideas gone?

Forget the good men...I have one of those...but I'm really beginning to think all of the original ideas are taken. I can't explain much without giving away something I'm not allowed to...but let's just say I thought I was on to something. I thought I had an idea that would knock some socks off. And then I saw it. "It" being something that wasn't quite my idea, but close. Close enough that if someone saw my idea, and this other idea together they'd think one was inspired by the other. The funny thing being ofcourse that my idea has been in it's complete form for days now, and I just saw this other thing a couple of hours ago. When I first made this discovery, I was crushed....devestated....ready to throw in the towel.

But the good news is, I expressed these ridiculous feelings to someone I respect very much. And that someone informed me original ideas don't exist, and basically to get over it. Well, she didn't say get over it, but that's the way I took it. So I'm dusting myself off, holding on to my no longer completely original idea...and I'm running with it. And hopefully...just maybe....it's still cool enough to knock off a sock or two.

Here's a remarkable thought: I'm happy now. Really Happy. And I can't point to one specific thing that's making it so. And to me, that is the greatest thing ever. Because if there was something specific responsible for my happiness, then if you took that something out of the equation: goodbye happy. But with this general feeling of happiness....I feel like I can hang on to it, like it just might stick around for a while.

Okay, who am I kidding? I'm happy because I'm going to Florida in 18 days. A little over two weeks and I'll be "Walking on Sunshine." Warmth. Sun. Mickey Mouse. Cruise Ship. Pool. Fruity drinks with an umbrella...just for me. Oh Happy Happy day.

See, when it comes to life in the Upper Peninsula, I think I've found my survival strategy: Escape in February. Remind myself that the sun really exists. Hey...I wonder if that's an original idea :)