"Happiness Is....... " This is something so simple, yet so difficult to articulate. So I am just going to write whats on my mind. If you would like to give this months contest a try go here
Judith HeartSong: April's Artsy Essay: "Happiness Is......."
So here is my entry..
Today I found out a friend I worked with Died. He worked in my department overnights and him and I got to know each other pretty well while he was still on days. An ex-marine, gardener, dog lover, an artist, Avid sports fan. He had a good heart, could always make you laugh and ornery as all get out :-). He was only in his early 50's. Much to young to have passed. Even as I write this the tears come but also a smile. I was blessed to have known him, even for the short while I did. He touched my life, he made me smile and laugh. He gave me a precious gift and that was a piece of his soul that I will always cherish. He would want people to laugh and remember the good things about him and not mourn his death but rejoice in the life he had. What made him happy was making others laugh, smile and feel good about themselves. He made the most out of his life and lived it to the fullest. He made a choice.. to be happy and he was.
Since this topic was chosen for this month contest, I have been really watching people. I was in line at a store the other day. There was two young girls in front of me, a woman in her 50's in front of them and at the front of the line was an elderly woman. She was smiling and talking to the 50ish woman about her dogs. Her loving companions. The one young girl turned to the other and said "That why you we have to get our lives together so we don't end up like her, Old with just are dogs" I was stunned and appalled by this statement. All I could think about was how little these two knew about life and for all they knew this woman has led a full and fulfilling life that other could only dream of and in this time of her life she has every right to dote after her loving companions. After the elderly woman left the same young girl made a comment to the 50ish woman she said "That's why I hope I find the right man, and SOON!!" at this statement all I could do was shake my head. So much to learn and so many hard times a head these young girls have to become a little more humble and a lot more wiser. I don't know everything but I do know that you can't depend on anyone to make you happy. Someone can share in your happiness, add to your happiness, But "YOU" have to make yourself happy. They will learn someday. Just as we all have to learn in our own time.
Still thinking about this topic.. Happiness is... I was working at my retail job.. filling shelves, setting features when a customer walking toward me caught my eye. She had her shopping cart full and one item just made me smile. She had a cane, the type that has the spider legs at the bottom for support. But this particular cane was dressed for the day. It matched her outfit perfectly. She passed and I had to stop her and comment on how much I loved her snazzy cane. She smiled at me and as nice as can be said she has three others at home as well and color coordinates them with her outfits. She said she loves to make people smile that it makes her happy. We talked a bit more and I wished her a wonderful day and she continued her journey. I couldn't stop smiling. She took something, in her case a cane which is a necessity for her now and made it fun, made the best of her situation. Now it makes her happy to see other smile and talk to her about it. How fabulous is that :-)
This is what happiness is... Happiness is a choice... it's what we make of our own situation.. It is the choice to get up every day, get dressed and embrace that day, the day that could be are very last day on this earth, to embrace it for all it's worth. To squeeze every ounce of life out of every moment. To feel, to love, to enjoy every hill of this roller coaster of life. So go out, stay in.. what ever you enjoy. Read, watch T.V., create a masterpiece, doodle on a napkin, Take a walk in nature, Sit in a theater and get engrossed in an amazing adventure. What ever brings you joy, GO FOR IT!! The most important choice is to choose to be happy, It's the greatest gift you can give yourself.
Photo taken with my cell phone of a double rainbow before work 2 sundays ago. What a wonderful gift to start the day with. Photo by Kristal @ all rights reserved
