"We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married,
have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids
aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that
we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will
certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.
"We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse
gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to
go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is, there's no
better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life
will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to
yourself and decide to be happy anyway.
"One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D Souza. He said, "For a
long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real
life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be
gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be
served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned
on me that these obstacles were my life."
"This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way
to happiness. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every
moment that you have. And treasure it more because you
shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your
time ... and remember that time waits for no one...
"So, stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back
to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten
pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the
house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get
married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until
Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your
car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until
fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the
first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've
had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until
you are born again to decide that there is no better time
than right now to be happy ... Happiness is a journey, not a
destination."
(
geocities.com/heartland/oaks/5346) (
geocities.com/heartland/oaks) (
geocities.com/heartland)