Choosing Happiness Now: Embracing Life’s Journey

I have been guilty of mentally thinking of life will be better when throughout my life, in some phases more than others. There have been times when it seemed to me that life was about to start – real life. but there was always some obstacle in the way, some thing to be gotten through first – unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid, etc. Then real life would begin. But, to paraphrase John Lennon and Allen Saunders, life happens when your busy making other plans is true. It dawned on me, a long time ago, that these obstacles are my life.

I don’t think that there’s anything wrong with imagining a happy future and planning for it. It’s a good idea to set goals and make a plan to achieve them. I also think that there’s no problem changing plans and direction along the way… a course correction. But when we arrive in the future and think is this all there is we are missing the present being disappointed by the past and inhibited by living in a future we imagine.

In the now, how many times have you convinced yourself that life will be better after getting married, having a baby, and then another? Then are you frustrated that the kids aren’t enough, and that you’ll be more content when they are. After that, are you frustrated that you have teenagers to deal with and will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. Sometimes we tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our partner gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice holiday, when we retire.

The truth is there’s no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? From this woman that is living with breast cancer, life will always be filled with challenges. But that doesn’t mean the present has to be diminished. One can choose to adapt. My experience has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. That’s what these years of resilience have been about for me.

The journey is the destination.

I know these are platitude-ish but I like them…

• Treasure every moment that you have, including the bad days. Treasure it because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with.
• Remember that time waits for no one.
• stop waiting until…
  • you lose 10 pounds / you gain 10 pounds
  • you have kids / until the kids leave the house
  • you start work / retire
  • you get married / divorced
  • Friday night / Sunday morning
  • you get a new car or home / until your home or car is paid off
  • until spring / summer / winter

There’s no better time to be happy than right now. Happiness is the journey not the destination.

Work like you don’t need money. Love like you’ve never been hurt. And dance like nobody’s watching.

Carpe Diem – reclaiming that and giving ourselves permission. I’ll keep sharing where the journey is taking me/us.