Happiness Happens When You Least Expect It!

If 2009 was about focusing on what we lost, 2010 should be about focusing on what we have.

Many families are finding new rewards when they change their priorities.  Take for example this family that Gimundo featured.  They sold their 6,500 house for a smaller house and gave the profits on the big house to charity.

Get what you need: In 2008 it was all about the big houses, fancy cars and dining out.  In 2009 the bottom fell out of the economy.  Some of you may think that my elevator got stuck, but is the change in the economy really a bad thing? People are now taking a second look at what is really important.

Choose happiness and find your family!

Take a small house for example; you can get to know your family members better. Everyone isn’t off in their own little corner of the world.  You have to spend time together.  Instead of dining out you learn to   have a picnic.

Invest in relationships: With hard times upon us we are learning to spend time with each other.  We are experience the family dinners again.  We are learning to play games together; rather then everyone doing their thing.  We have to learn to work together as a family unit.

Think of others: The ability to be grateful for the beauty of nature or the closeness of our families is what gives our lives meaning.  When we shift our attention away from ourselves to others, we can actually change biology.  Studies show that people involved in “giving behaviors” produce chemicals in their bodies that result in greater tranquility, joy, and trust, even a diminishing of chronic aches and pains.

The best things really are free: We are all learning what now what an 85 year old already knows; “chasing after money is meaningless.” (Would someone like to tell the politicians and CEO’s about the chasing money thing?)  Just thought I would throw that one in.  Oops!

Here is a poem that I found that I believe you will enjoy:

The Train of Life

Some folks ride the train of life, looking out the rear,
Watching miles of life roll by, and marking every year.

They sit in sad remembrance, of wasted days gone by,
and curse their life for what it was, and hang their head and cry.

But I don’t concern myself with that, I took a different vent.
I look forward to what life holds, and not what has been spent.

So strap me to the engine, as securely as I can be.
I want to be out on the front, to see what I can see.

I want to feel the winds of change, blowing in my face.
I want to see what life unfolds, as I move from place to place.

I want to see what’s coming up, not looking at the past.
Life’s too short for yesterdays, it moves along too fast.

So if the ride gets bumpy, while you are looking back,
go up front and you may find, your life has jumped the track.

It’s all right to remember, that’s part of history.
But up fronts where it’s happening, there’s so much mystery.

The enjoyment of living is not where we have been,
it’s looking ever forwards, to another year and ten.

It’s searching all the byways, never should you refrain.
For if you want to live your life, you got to drive the train.

(Author unknown)

With that said, “Let’s get back on the track and choose happiness whenever we can.”

Now is the time don’t you think?

Debbie Dee

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