I believe that happiness is a choice and that people can choose to take advantage of the opportunities that they are afforded, so they can learn how to be happy. Abraham Lincoln said, “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” You don’t need to chase down that elusive butterfly and try to get it to sit on your shoulder, just start off with a smile and take responsibility for your own contentment. I guess some people do suffer from depression, but I have never experienced that. I have had my share of bad times, but I never saw any sense in being miserable because of any circumstances that I encountered.
Don’t dwell on unhappy events, instead focus on something that made you smile. Happiness is a feeling of exhilaration, satisfaction and a deficiency of worries and anxieties, that is usually experienced when everything is okay, when your plans have proceed as expected, or when you recognize that you are loved or respected. I derive happiness from writing and right now I have set a personal goal of writing my 500th post before the end of the year. In my dreams I reach tranquility by watching the Sun setting, or by laying on the beach. I choose to allow happiness into my life, and it has become a permanent part of who I am. I am not saying that everyone should be as jolly as Chevy Chase in the National Lampoon’s Vacation movie, where he loses it on the way to Wally World and says, “It’s a quest, a quest for fun, I’m gonna have fun and your gonna have fun, were all gonna have so much fucking fun that we will need plastic surgery to remove our goddamn smiles, as you’ll be whistling zippydodah out of your assholes.”
Holly Jolly Christmas Burl Ives / Norman Rockwell
Have a holly jolly Christmas
It’s the best time of the year
I don’t know if there’ll be snow
But have a cup of cheer
Have a holly jolly Christmas
And when you walk down the street
Say hello to friends you know
And everyone you meet
Oh ho, the mistletoe hung where you can see
Somebody waits for you, kiss her once for me
I always try to see the glass as at least half full, although these days that’s a bit of a challenge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have a good attitude about life and you have your wonderful family to share it with.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I agree!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always thought happiness should be pursued. What about Sandi and my attitude, Jim?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stop putting me between you and Sandi.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are family. You can’t escape the grumpy me, or the laughing one Sandi. You’re the wise one Jim. Happy Holidays… Will you travel?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nope, just going to relax and write. I hope that you have a wonderful holiday also.
LikeLiked by 1 person
true, we are as happy as we let ourselves be. i believe that, but i also believe happiness are moments that happen in our lives,.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I also believe that happiness will happen, but you must stop being miserable and let it happen to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh yeah, you have no idea. it’s tough if you’re miserable, because you see nothing is beautiful anymore, but if you want, really want, you can see past the ugly. i’ve been there once, and i’m greatful that i let it go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the song Holly Jolly Christmas! I think your blog post is on point. We choose how we respond to life’s ups and downs. We have the opportunity to let go of the negative, grasp the positive and move forward. It is always good, however, to be reminded that the opportunity is ours.
LikeLike
I could not get the LIKE button to work on your comment. Negative people breed negativity and the opposite goes for positive.
LikeLiked by 1 person