As I started talking with the radiology tech about the process, and how many boobs she handles in the course of a day and the various attitudes she experiences, she said, “No one’s happy to get this done,” and I instantly replied, “Oh, I am.”

I can think of so many reasons off the top of my head to be happy about it.  Here are just a few:

• I’m happy we live in a day and age where the technology for early detection exists.
• I’m happy to live in a country where I have access to the machines and people who can do this detection.
• I’m happy whenever I take the time to take care of myself.
• I’m happy that our family has health insurance (this is a biggie in the entertainment industry, where qualifying for health insurance changes year-to-year.)
• I’m happy that the law now requires my insurance carrier to cover this procedure (sorry to those who oppose affordable care, but this is a very big deal.  Until the law changed, our insurance gave women the choice between an annual physical or an annual “well woman” exam, which meant I had to choose each year whether to be examined for cervical cancer or heart disease.  Now, I get to do both.  Woo-hoo.)
• I’m happy I had a fun conversation with the technician.  She really seemed to be having a bad day before that, and she left the room laughing.

Whenever you have to do something unpleasant (go to the dentist, renew your car registration, clean out the gutters), try to make a list of all the reasons you are happy to be doing that activity.  Chances are, you have a lot of reasons, and they far outweigh the negatives of the thing you’re doing, so go ahead – bathe that filthy dog, get that colon examined, squeeze those boobs.

And never forget how happy you are to do it.