Autumn in the North Country

Autumn in the North Country

Thursday, March 20, 2014

The Path to Happiness

"Most people are as happy as they make their minds up to be." Abraham Lincoln






Today is the United Nations International Day of Happiness, and I believe most of us can find reasons to celebrate the small things around us that bring us joy. However, we are surrounded by a world which overwhelms us with messages that make our path to happiness uneven and difficult to find. We are told we need to buy more to be happy; we are told we need to look younger and more beautiful to be happy; we are told we need to be famous to be happy. To that, I say au contraire. The answer to happiness resides inside each and every one of us. Look around your life and find someone who needs uplifting. That will make you happy. Go for a walk. Revisit a place that is dear to you. Sit quietly and reflect on your life. Play with a child. Run with your dog. Give to your community. Make a donation to an international aid group. These actions will make you happy. This path will have its ups and downs. It will be filled with stones and roots, but the human spirit has great resolve, and being happy should be a priority. When you stumble, reach out for a friend, and when you see unhappiness around you, hand them a light to find the trail. May you find some happiness  today and all the days to follow.

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