Happiness...

"Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy." The Cockle Bur

I love that simple quote because it says so much with so few words. Let's face it, we all want to be happy...to feel joy...and, to be at peace. But, this basic concept can be so elusive at times especially when too much time and energy go into seeking it.

Lately I have found myself pondering this notion of "...what happiness is and how do we get there...or better yet, how do we know when we have arrived?" There aren't any real answers to these questions in that it differs from person to person and from situation to situation.

For me personally, happiness is more like contentment...that feeling that at this very moment all is well in my world. It can be fleeting in that sometimes "Life" gets in the way and we lose some of that emotional "high" that we might be on. The reality of it all is that happiness is really right there always...it is up to us to allow ourselves to feel it...to experience it...to accept it as a way of life. This "way of life" is mixed in with moments of fear, anger, sadness, loneliness...and this is where the real test comes in. Can we have all of these emotions and still get back to happiness? I think, "yes". I believe that the difficulties that we all face now and again can accentuate our joy when we work through these feelings and move on. They give us a point of comparison...enabling us to feel positive again. It may take some work, but we can get there.

I think that if "things" only make you happy, then what will occur when those things are taken away or lost? If you rely on other people to make you happy, then what happens when they are dealing with their own pain and can't be there for you? If you look to artificial means of feeling happy-temporarily numbing some of the sadness...then what do you do when the numbness wears off and you are facing reality again?

As I think about this, I realize over and over again that pure happiness has to come from within ourselves. No one thing or person can give it to us....And, truthfully, what an incredible gift we have been given to be able to bring up those wonderful feelings all on our own.

So, today I have decided to take a deep breath, put away my worry and stresses...stop searching for answers to so many of my unanswered questions.......find a place of acceptance.....and just feel....

happy.

Care to join me? : )