Happiness

Deep down I believe it is a universal truth that everyone wants to be happy.  In fact, the pursuit of happiness is listed as an unalienable-right in the Declaration of Independence.  Not as universal is the way we attempt to pursue that happiness, and it is truly a pursuit.

Too many of us are not happy in having something, but having more of it than someone else.  Instead of reaching to new heights, they are busy putting others down.  They look forward to something in the future, when I can drive I'll be happy, when I can date I'll be happy, when I'm in college, when I graduate, when I'm married, when I can retire, the list goes on and on.

Happiness is not a destination, but a way of life.  Somebody will always have more than you, and while you are busy putting others down, you will never be able to look up and enjoy the view at the top.  The time to be happy is now.

Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today. -James Dean

So are you happy yet?  Wouldn't it be nice if it were that easy?  Like I said earlier, happiness is truly a pursuit.  It takes work, and it takes a different way of thinking.

The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything.

I first thing I have found is that the times I am happiest are not when I am comparing myself to others, but when I am serving them.  When I am trying to make someone else's day, mine instantly becomes better.  It is the times I am helping pull someone up, not putting them down, that are the most rewarding.  The view from the top is a lot more fun when you have someone to share it with.

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world.  This makes it hard to plan the day. -E.B. White

The second thing is to have an attitude of gratitude.  Instead of always wanting more, are we grateful for what we already have?  We are SO blessed!  If we really stop to think about it, we have so much.  The following videos can portray my thoughts much better than I could ever write them.



As we strive to follow these two simple things, service and gratitude, we will be well on our way to pursuing happiness.  The road will not always be easy, there will be roadblocks, traffic jams, crashes, and many other obstacles. But as we focus on what we can control, and make the best of it, we will find ourselves much further along the path than we ever imagined.

There are always two choices, two paths to take.  One is easy, and that is its only reward.

Mr. Quarterback

I stepped onto the cold, muddy field.  Puddles had begun to form, I could see my breath.  People who could not normally care less turned their eyes toward the football field.  I heard my name being called out, there was a frenzy that had rarely been seen before.

I had arrived, Mr. Quarterback, it had a nice ring to it.  But I didn't have time to dwell, the time was now!  Game clock started, it was the first play.  I yelled orders to my team.  Hike!  It was like a roar, a battle-cry coming from my lips.  My team began to run their routes, the other team was rushing.  I scrambled, narrowly avoided their grasp, set my feet and let it fly.

The ball spiraled toward the end-zone in a way that would have made David of old, and his slingshot, proud.  I heard a collective gasp, they had never seen such a pass, TOUCHDOWN!

The crowd wanted more, there was no way they were going to let me leave the field.  All-time QB they pleaded.  I graciously accepted. I began to lead the opposing team down the field.  Slants, posts, even running it a time or two, another touchdown!

In the space of 15 minutes I had 8 touchdown passes, and 1 rushing touchdown.  Then the bell rang and recess was over.  We lined up and went inside, but the mud on our shoes, and each squishy step they made, reminded us of the magic we felt that day.