If You're Happy and You Know It

Let's take a poll--how many of you are familiar with these platitudes?:

* Happiness is a decision you make

or

* Happiness is overrated

or

* Happiness is something you seek, not something you find

or

* Happiness is found in selfless actions

or

* Happiness comes to those who wait

or

* Happiness is wanting what you have, not having what you want

blah, blah, blah. I've heard 'em all, sista.

In fact, I've had people from various walks espouse each of these to me in various forms over the past few months. I've even told myself some of them repeatedly, hoping to find a mantra on this search to define it.

But here's the thing--I've decided that defining happiness is like herding oily kittens. There are levels and layers and stages and degrees of which I find no comfort in incessantly trying to nail down.

Having said that, I just can't see settling for contentment. Life is too full of joy to feel sated by mere contentment. Doesn't it inevitably lead to complacency? Which would of course lead to ambivalence?

Ambivalence ain't good.

Plus, I've never had to work very hard at being happy. It's historically been.... a character trait. One I was quite fond of, in fact. But when your character traits are tested over time you're forced to figure out how deep their roots go, and which ones you're willing to fight to keep in your soul.

So I'm left wondering if this little happiness feller is gonna make the cut.

p.s. I read this story today and remembered reading Who Moved My Cheese years ago. Might have to grab another copy.

Baby Love

This is sublime.

New Year's Day

Editor's note: I love it when I get to use U2 titles for my blog posts.










Entering 2008, I'm faced with the following challenges:

* I've eaten my way through the last 2 months of 2007 and cannot expect to continue in this manner if I ever plan to wear my current wardrobe again

* I've slept in, watched too many movies and cheesy tv shows, read gobs of books and otherwise lolly-gagged my way through the last 2 weeks of 2007, and cannot expect to continue in this manner if I ever plan to earn a paycheck or get my children to school on time next week

* my friend Janice is knee-deep in her chemo and the road ahead is long and ugly

* it's cold, gray and snowy in Michigan, and I hate the cold (I could live with pretty snow if it wasn't gray or cold)--and yet I live in Michigan

* I have absolutely no idea how to hook-up the Wii that's been sitting in my living room since Christmas morning

* Girl Scout cookies are coming soon (please refer to first challenge above)

* I rejoice in Obama's success but can't see past his inexperience, and question Hillary's ability to get anything done with the Haters that will come up against her if she's in office

* I need a new cell phone and the options are a quagmire of overwhelming, largely unnecessary technology

Not wholly unsurmountable as challenges go, but a few of 'em are tough nuts.