Teal Blue Nail Polish
What's on my mind this week . . .
I am thinking about happiness this week.
I was weaned on those 'happily ever after' stories of childhood and, for a very long time, I felt happiness was just out of reach. I had these goals that had to do with my happiness that always kept it just on the horizon - a horizon that continued to shift. Here are just a few of them:
When I get married, I'll be happy.
When I lose weight, I'll be happy.
When I have tons of money, I'll be happy.
I had a ‘when I’ connection to happiness.
I find it can be easy to worry about politics or the economy. But I know that worrying about political situations outside my span of influence or about what might happen financially can sap my joy and energy. And even when I accept that there is no such thing as 'happily ever after,' I still can fall prey to the illusion presented by a media machine that equates happiness with sleeker bodies, fewer wrinkles, the latest gadgets, that shiny new car or that 'perfect' love match.
Fortunately, I found my definition of happiness several years ago - in a playground.
I went with my littlest nephews to the nearest playground and spent some time watching two cute little toddlers explore their world. What I noticed is that happiness was a state of aliveness, curiosity and joy experienced in the moment. As my two little nephews demonstrated, the next moment you may be pinching each other or falling down but that doesn’t take away from the moments when you are just purely happy.
With children showing the way, I redefined happiness as something that occurs in the present - in the embracing of the timeless open moment. And in that moment it fills my being so full that it is an experience complete and perfect in and of itself. Then on to the next moment and whatever that brings.
I can choose how I think and feel about what happens in my life so that means I have the power to choose happiness in each and every moment available to me in any given day. This I think is the secret to happiness - it doesn't depend on anything outside of me; only on my exercising my incredible power of focus and choice. I can choose happiness as often as I want. And I can choose to honor my other emotions as well.
If I pay attention to my thoughts and moods each day, I can shift my focus and choose happiness. Just for that moment. Try it with me, and see how that makes you feel and how that shifts your day. And I can find delight in the smallest of details.
When I was at the beach for several weeks, I went to the nail salon and got my toe nails painted teal blue. For the rest of my time there, every time I wiggled a toe I found myself smiling. Happiness - the joy of teal blue nail polish.
It’s the start of a new month - may you be blessed with many opportunities to choose happiness. I hope you find your own version of teal blue nail polish and share that joy with all.
With love,
Cathleen
I wonder if there is a difference between happiness and joy. For me, happiness is being fully present for an experience, like the one with your little nephews at the playground, and joy is more pervasive, choosing to en-joy life itself. IDK. Does that make any sense? PS Love the toenail color.