"Be Happy Where You Are"
Sadly, many of us continually postpone our happiness - indefinitely. It's not
that we consciously set out to do so, but that we keep convincing ourselves, "Someday
I'll be happy." We tell ourselves we'll be happy when our bills are paid, when we get
out of school, get our first job, a promotion. We convince ourselves that life will be
better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the
kids aren't old enough we'll be more content when they are. After that, we're frustrated
that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that
stage.
We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or
her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when
we retire. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now,
when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself
and decide to be happy anyway.
One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D'Souza. He said, "For a long time it
had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some
obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time
still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that
these obstacles were my life." This perspective has helped me to see that there is no
way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have! And
treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your
time. .... and remember that time waits for no one...
Yesterday is history
Tomorrow a mystery
Today is a gift
That's why it's called the present!
Note from sender: So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to
school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until
your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire,until you get married,
until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car
or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until
winter, until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until 'your song' comes
on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you are born
again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy...
Happiness is a journey not a destination.
