Happiness and Corn

I've been thinking about happiness a lot these past couple of weeks. Every morning I have a choice as to whether or not I will be happy for the day. And I typically choose happiness. There are moments during the day that aren't necessarily highlights, memorable moments, but for the most part, I love my life, and I am truly trying to be happy, every single day.

I have patients, students, friends who choose similarly, and it is amazing that when happiness is a conscientious choice the entire surroundings appear differently. I also have patients, students, friends, who suffer from depression, and happiness isn't always a choice, there are so many barriers in the way of that happiness. And I feel sorry for them, because I know that for them, the road is tough. And again, I know others who are glass half-empty folks, and not choosing happiness is a choice they make, on a daily basis. These people aren't a joy to associate with, and it often appears their choice is to pull others to their level of unhappiness.

Interesting, that when looking for happiness, I find sayings that validate my pursuit of happiness.  For instance:

“Happiness is a journey, not a destination. For a long time it 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. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one.”—Alfred D. Souza (died 2004)

And:

 "There isn't necessarily more to life, just there is more to your beautiful life than you first recognized."

And lastly, this story:   Growing Good Corn (Author Unknown)

There once was a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon.
One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors.
"How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?" the reporter asked.
"Why sir," said the farmer, "didn't you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn."
He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbor's corn also improves.
So it is with our lives. Those who choose to live in peace must help their neighbors to live in peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

Give happiness a try -