Don't worry, be HAPPY...

Here I am again...with so many thoughts bombarding my mind that I am unsure what to write about.  Then it hit me.  Every time my mother and I visit, we laugh until we tear up, or develop stomach aches.  This is what true happiness is to me.  Moments.  Fully enjoyed. 

Your life is a sequence of moments, strung together.  Why then, do we tend to waste so many precious moments?  Every minute you spend unhappy, is 60 seconds of happiness you lose...from your own life.  Do not waste time, it is fleeting.  Do not put things off, do what you want to do, NOW...if you can't do it immediately, then at least get the ball rolling.

Often we are afraid to tell it like it is...due to fear.  If there is something you want to, or need to say, say it.  No greatness can come if you are not willing to take a risk.  If you are waiting for something to happen, some cosmic event...before you get active, don't wonder why you are stuck in a rut, you are there by choice.  Yes, you are.  There is no such thing as "I can't".  Take a moment, think about it.  Is there something standing between you and happiness?  What is it, and why is it blocking you?  I know soul searching is more often than not scary, but in order to move forward, you have to take a load off.

I came to such a crossroads and admittedly, it was terrifying.  I am a person who likes to know.  I like to know where I stand with people, I like clear direction, the whole route does not necessarily have to be planned, but clear step by step is necessary for me to feel comfortable.

The first choice was between Potchefstroom and Pretoria.  Potchefstroom meant Germany for 6 months.  Which meant 6 months away from my loved ones, and an added financial obligation upon my dad, not that he would mind, at all, but I wouldn't allow it.  I chose Pretoria...it was daunting..since I am a small town girl, born and bred.  My inner mule kicked in and pushed on.  We never back down, we never show fear, we never give up (I attribute much of my inner strength and stubbornness to my upbringing under a father who is ex-military).  It turned out to be one of the best choices I have ever made.  Not only am I blessed to hear the sound of wildlife every single day, but I am also learning from one of the heavyweights in Child Law (internationally speaking).  I have met absolutely amazing people and I have never regretted my decision once.  I live in absolute gratitude every.single.day.. :)

Take the leap, don't stay in a situation where you stagnate or become unhappy.  It will lead to bitterness.

The second crossroads came when I had to choose between status quo and the dazzling unknown, regarding my personal life.  As I have written in "Change...", one needs to declutter from time to time, albeit physically or emotionally.  To let go is liberating.  What you were, what you own, does not define you.  Who you are, what you say, what you do - that defines you.

I believe everybody deserves happiness.  When you find yourself in a situation where you're not happy, something needs to change.  If you draw the curtains, light can't get in.  It works the same way with life.  You can't receive any sort of blessing if you are not willing to open up to receive it. 

It seems to me, that people use the past as their safety blanket.  When, however, you cling to the negative memories of the past, your "safety blanket" is laced with poison - a slow killing poison.  Like putting a frog in water and slowly heating it up...you won't realize that you're busy drowning until it has become too late.

Laughter is good for you.  Not only does it release endorphins (happy hormones) into your system, it also serves as good exercise for your internal organs.  Laughter takes away burden and pain.  Nothing bad can come from laughter except maybe tinkled pants...ha ha ha :)

When you are old, you will regret not being kinder to yourself, not laughing more, not freeing yourself from burden and pain.  Regret is something I choose to avoid.  No more what ifs.  When in doubt, pray, then laugh, open your eyes and actually look at what you are blessed with. 

Have you ever given thanks for your eyesight, your hearing?  Or the fact that you have 10 fingers, 10 toes, limbs that work perfectly?  Internal organs that function as they should?  These are things we so often overlook, and they are blessings we take for granted, however, some people do not have the gift of sight, hearing...properly functioning organs, etc.  You are a lucky individual, and incredibly blessed, to be alive, to have a body that functions as it should, to have food and water and a warm bed to return to each day.  Even these "basics" aren't so basic if you take into account that so many children, globally, sleep cold, hungry, and thirsty every night.

When you look at it that way, the fact that you sat in traffic today, your boss growled at you, or you feel phlegmatic, seems insignificant once you look at the world as a whole.  Can you magically make traffic disappear?  If not..stop moaning, many other people are sitting in traffic with you...you'll get to where you have to be, eventually.  Can you change your boss's attitude? Definitely.  No matter if the growl was because of you or not, being kind, persistently, deflates anger.  Do not fuel it by sulking, no one wins that way.  When you feel down, watch comedy, count your blessings and SMILE - someone is bound to fall in love with it. :)

I choose to think of things that make me happy, do things, that make me happy.  I laugh with people, I wrestle my dogs when I visit my parents, I watch soppy rom-coms because, who doesn't love a happy ending and who doesn't have a little bit of romance in them? ;)

Even if you feel comfortable to be emo, to grumble...smile...it ain't that hard to do, and after a while, you'll actually mean it.

"Joy can be real only if people look upon their life as a service, and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness." - Leo Tolstoy

"The greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being." - Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lamat

Smile like you mean it!

:D