Pursuit of Happiness

“We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.” - Joseph Campbell

Have you ever been having a great day or a just a great season in life, and you feel guilty? We start questioning why we have the right to be happy when there is so much suffering in the world. We question whether or not we deserve happiness. We tell ourselves that it isn’t worth enjoying this happy season, because something bad is going to happen and we are going to be right back to being miserable. We are afraid to be happy because we feel it invites bad things to happen, punishing us for being happy. I’ve been there. But I have learned that this kind of thinking robs me of the joy of life. I have given myself permission to be happy. To choose happiness. To look for the good around me and relish it.

I am very blessed this holiday season to spend time with my husband, my children and with my parents. I treasure each day and don’t take it for granted. As a military family we know that we don’t control our schedules, and there is no guarantee that our loved ones will be home for the holidays. I can remember Christmases, birthdays and other celebrations without Tex while he was deployed overseas or on a ship somewhere far away during his Naval service. Time with family and the people we love is such a gift. I am enjoying every minute.

There is wise saying: “Don’t cross the bridge until you get to it”. Another wise saying: “Don’t borrow trouble”. When we worry about the “what if’s” and the bad things that can happen, we are crossing bridges before we get to them and borrowing trouble. The best thing we can do is live in the present. Enjoy the good in our lives. Actively look for the good and choose to embrace it. We know life is not a continuous joy ride. This journey we are on will have highs and lows, peaks and valleys. Constant anticipation of the lows and valleys prevents us from enjoying the highs and peaks. We build resilience and courage when we allow ourselves to fully experience the whole journey. Including the happy parts.

In this season of joy and hope, my wish is that we all find rays of sunshine and happiness amidst the messiness and craziness of life. The fact is, there is more good in the world than bad. Sometimes we just have to look harder than others.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come.” -Handel/Watts