Try
a Little Happiness
“Perhaps
if one really knew when one was happy one would know the things that
were necessary for one's life.”
Joanna
Field
In Simple Abundance,
Sarah Ban Breathnach poses the question, “How happy are you
right now?” So many of us never stop to ask that question, so
we don't actually know how to assess whether or not we are happy.
Some of us do recognize
happiness when we feel it. During the holidays, a friend of mine who
is a stained-glass-artist, Andrea, posted photos of herself with her
grandchildren on Facebook. They made something called “stained
glass cookies” in which they crushed Lifesavers candies and created
colored patterns on sugar cookies. I don't think Andrea could fake
the happiness displayed on her face for all the world to see. Another
friend, Melissa, who has a brand new granddaughter, remarked to me
over dinner last weekend, “I miss holding her.” Her face went all
soft and dewy; her eyes gazed far away in the direction of D.C. where
the baby lives. So, some of us recognize that we feel happy when playing
with our grandchildren. I heard someone say that playing
with one's grandchildren is like eating ice cream without any
consequences.
I wonder about you—do
you know what makes you feel happy? I ask because doing things, or
being with people, who create that feeling in each of us is crucial
to health and overall well-being. In addition to all our vigorous
work-outs, and weight loss schemes, we might want to give some
thought to the notion of “extended periods of happiness.” The
health benefits are exponential. There are some other words for
happy—at least in my lexicon—content, optimistic, jovial,
delighted, jolly, carefree, untroubled, joyful—if you feel any of
these, you just might be happy. If you rarely feel any of them, you
may want to give some thought to what would produce them in you. For
your health's sake, and for the enrichment of your life, try a little
happiness on for size.
In the Spirit,
Jane
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