"BE HAPPY"I read the following quote this morning and it has played in my mind all day.
"The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be." - Marcel Pagnol
My mind translates this idea into "the grass is always greener....."
If I am dissatisfied with my present, it is often because I am comparing it to a past that looks better in my aging perceptions than it actually was. I can forget that my past contains the inability to cope with life, the total inability to live life on life's terms. I can also forget that the glorious past I sometimes pine for nearly killed me by reason of alcoholism.
As for the future, who the heck knows what it will hold? I have had so many experiences of the totally unexpected happening that I know I have no idea what lies in the future. However, once the future becomes the present, it is then clearly and precisely known and describable.
And the present? The more I remember the truth about the past, that it contained the good and the bad and the more I stay out of the unknown future, the happier I am today. My Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-anon programs teach me to live in the now, to keep my focus on where my feet are. When I stop comparing today to a faulty memory of the past and to a yet to be determined future, I can be satisfied.
Practicing being satisfied holds the greater possibility of experiencing happiness. I want to be happy. Desiring to be happy is a choice I make for myself and it is up to me to stay in the present, choose thoughts and actions that are conducive to happiness, and pray for the steadfastness of character to practice these things daily.
Dear bloggers, I hope you will BE HAPPY today!
Prayer Girl
(Photo credit: Winter Wonderland by Bojan Bencic)
19 comments:
I don't see my past that way..and I do NOT want to do it over again, either.
However, many people always think the grass is greener on the other side until they get there.
Great post!!
Thank you for your prayers and sweet comments on arise 2 write.
andrea
BEAUTIFL phot and WONDERFUL Post. Hope your first week in 2010 brings joy and happiness
Linda
Great post. Thanks :)
Love the quote :)
I think RID is the 'ism' so i love looking at how we manage to justify it to ourselves..
totally agree! One thing I have always held onto and cherish are my journals of which I have kept since I was 8 years old. always good to look back on the 'reality' of which the 'happiness' of times past truly has to present... not all are so fortunate, I find myself blessed and your words ring true. Happy New Year, to you!
As I go about my very busy day, I think most of the people I run into would not describe themselves as 'happy'. I agree with you. It's a choice.
I got to say....I'm happier than I've ever been b/c He's with me now and I know it. thanks for this.
Amen!
I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for granting me contentment and "joy" today. No looking back...
Blessings,
Tammy
I try to stay focused in the present, learning from the past, and working to make a good future.
Thanks for your inspirational post!
ditto ditto ditto
I am going to be happy today too.
Loved the post today, I needed it.
Namaste
agree. So grateful that I stopped killing my past and pciture of it and now finally keep track, keep memories and keep blogging. Hope you were happy too today. Hugs from Munich
Keep my focus on where my feet are...Love it!
I am working on it. It was a tough morning. But things do get better when I drag myself out of self-pity.
I got to get the concept of "one day at a time". Great post. Happiness this hour.
nice...i sometimes grab on to the good old days...we do hide hose bad memories well...the future is always full of possibility too...but both of those can rob the here and now...
Thanks for sharing this today. I can honestly say that I am very content today, and some days overjoyed. Happiness is overrated!
Thank you PG! Blessings.
I am always happier in the moment. I do love the past though, and don't think about the future. When I say past, I like to pretend that in certain time periods things were more romantic- in the way a man courted a woman. And I love the simplicity of certain periods and also the frilliness of some. That's the fun of fantasy. If all things came true and we achieved total happiness, then there'd be no reason to fantasize. Nonetheless, smile I always say; things could be worse.
I spent my whole life looking forward to the next destination, all along missing the journey. Beautiful words of wisdom and a great reminder to be happy...for today!
Post a Comment