HAPPINESS

The other day I was listening to a very interesting program on the radio about Happiness. "How can one be truly happy?" Mary Hynes from CBS's 'Tapestry' (brilliant program) asked an eminent philosopher, whose name I missed. His response to the question was that when we try to make others happy, we are taking the control from our own lives, which in turn will only serve to make us unhappy.  Hmm... I began to ponder on the wisdom of that as I sat happily ironing in the kitchen, with Chi Chi snoring by my side.

I know when I am fully engaged in 'the now' with tasks such as gardening (correction! weeding), cooking, ironing, writing, etc. I am happy. Equally, I know that when my brain extends beyond my own happiness border, to areas beyond my control, I become unhappy. It can happen as quickly as a sun shower. So yes, the eminent philosopher made sense. This was the second time in a matter of days I tasted that same yummy wisdom. Last Sunday when I was at the Indian Festival in town with Kevin, I went to see an Indian palm reader - for the thrill of it!  It was the best $10 I ever spent as he delivered great bang for my buck.

Essentially, the Indian Sage said the same thing. He told me I should spend five minutes meditating each day to quieten my "busy brain" (I took that as a compliment!!) "How do I do that?" I asked in response "Simple" he continued "You need no lessons to learn this valuable life skill" Really? I thought to myself. "Just think of something you like - anything" he said "And then focus on that for five minutes; by which time your brain will have calmed down. For example a swimmer when swimming is meditating" he said, with a wise old expression in his kindly brown eyes.

Everybody from Eckhart Tolle to the Indian Sage are singing the same song which, when translated, means our Happiness comes from living in the Now and NOT trying to live others' lives for them, or worry about other people, or best still - let others' unhappy vibes get to us.

The truth of the matter is, there are a lot of unhappy people floating around in misery, and no matter what you say or do to make them smile, the glass for them will always be half empty; there will be a problem for every solution. One example comes to mind; my poor obsessional neighbour. For a very long time he was nagging us to put a new roof on our house as our old roof was attracting the crows, and while we were at it to paint the house as the paint was coming off, and of course that garbage can of ours was pointed in the wrong direction...etc. etc.

So guess what? We now have a beautiful new roof...and Yes! the crows still love our roof and his as well...and we have a beautiful new colour that everybody but our OCD neighbour likes...so that clearly illustrates the point that no matter how you strive to make unhappy people happy - you're wasting your precious time! Some grapes are impossible to sweeten but I agree, it is the thought that counts!

In a nutshell my darlings - Happiness is YOUR responsibility and you must not let negative folk try to drag you down - Keep Thinking Happy Thoughts - you do have a choice you know.

Something to Choo Choo on as we begin to enjoy our weekend.

Have Fun!

Love,

Patricia xxx