Just Be happy

Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response.
- Mildred Barthel

I love this quote because this is so very true: Happiness is a choice.  Your happiness comes from inside of you, not from circumstances, other people, increases or anything that would be outside of you because again, it’s a choice. I’ve often heard people say I’ll be happen when this or that happens. Well what if those things never happen, or happen years from now? Are you going to put your happiness on hold? If you wait for something or someone to make you happen, you’re limiting yourself because it’s a choice you can make right at this very moment.

                                                                     

Did you know that there is a "happy" meditation that you can do to change your vibration? Yep, it’s true. This meditation is so simple and all it takes is for you to make up your mind and open yourself up to it. All you have to do is close your eyes and smile. When you smile, that action brings forth good feelings which trigger good thoughts. Sometimes you may just laugh at yourself because you’re sitting with your eyes close and smiling. Either way, it works.

For this new year, I choose to do those things that make me happy. I choose to live my life on purpose, laugh more, hug more, take more pictures, say “I love you” more, make more phone calls, spend more time outdoors, and just live more. So this weekend I went hiking with the hubby and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. As we started down the trail, the birds seem to serenade us and welcome us to the woods. They sang with so much vigor and beauty, I immediately felt a sense of calm and peace. I noticed an older gentleman sitting on a bench and as we got closer to him I looked at him to say “hello” but he had his eyes close, his head was slightly leaned back as if he was listening to the singing birds, he had a very peaceful smile on his face and he tapped his foot. He didn’t have any earplugs in his ears for music so that led me to believe he was simply enjoying the music of the birds. Watching this man enjoy this moment gave me a feeling of “connection” and ushered me into the state of mind to enjoy the moment. I think my hubby felt it too because he reached out and grabbed my hand.

As we walked along in this peaceful place watching the butterflies flutter along and the lizards creep across the sidewalk, I verbally thanked God and allowed gratefulness to overtake me. I felt so grateful for the beautiful day, grateful for the cool breeze (it was about 70 degrees), grateful that although it had rained a couple days before, there were NO MOSQUITOS. I took this time to reflect on all of the things that mattered most to me like my mom & dad, and all of my loved ones. I thought about how blessed I am and how good it felt to be moving and alive.



attempting to count the age of the tree

We walked the trail for about 40 minutes or so with very little conversation. I think we were both basking in our own worlds but grateful to be together. We came to the map and I wanted to see the botanical gardens because I figured that it’s spring so things should be in bloom. We crossed the path to head over to the botanical gardens and to my surprise it was a blooming wonder. I can’t imagine why I thought this was my secret place because there were quite a few people there taking pictures and walking with their children. The fragrant smells of the flowers filled the air and the gentle breeze blew the trees and petals around on the ground. It was totally picturesque. So beautiful. So much so that I decided to bring my son and his family back so that I could finally get some family pictures because that's what I wanted to do to make me happy.

So I offer that  you find those things that make you happy. Laugh out loud everyday and have fun like a child would. You get old when you forget how to have fun and forget to laugh. Smile more, love more, be more friendly, live more, and just be happy. It could always be worse.