Things That Bring Happiness--

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Things That Bring Happiness--

-Hot chocolate piled high with whipped cream

-Friends who make us laugh

-Family--especially those family members who laugh long and hard

-Grandma's cookies

-Being on a team

-Taking a walk on a snowy day

-Haircuts that are perfect

-Sharing a cup of coffee with a friend

-That one moment when the house is clean

-All the laundry done

-Reading a good book

-Knowing someone understands you

-A surprise

-A bouquet of flowers on a rainy day

-The smell of a puppy

-Love

-A baby's first smile

-Learning a new thing

-Paving the way to success for another

-A hug

-Finding the solution to a challenge

-Walking into an inviting, warm room

-Sharing a meal with special people

-Grandchildren

So many life experiences bring us happiness.  It is a good thing to think about those things more.  However, when life sends us those pesky challenges, we get lost in the negative.  Who wouldn't?

One thing we can do when life hurts is to stop and breathe.  Slowing ourselves down helps us see more clearly.   Perhaps as we slow our lives down, we will be able to see what is good.  Even in those darkest moments of our lives,  good lives.  Instead of concentrating all our energies on how things have gone wrong, maybe we can remember a good time we had with family or friends.   Maybe we can be thankful for good moments before all the bad ones came crashing down around us.

Life is not easy.  When we look at another person's life, we only see the facade they wish us to see.  We don't see the daily struggles they encounter.  We don't see the insecurities they live with everyday.  We don't see the holes in their hearts that are so like our own.  We only see the outside.

If another life looks easy from the outside, it could be that they have learned to accept that life is not fair.  They understand that attitude plays an important role in how they experience life.  Having a positive attitude in challenging circumstances does not mean laughing when the world is falling apart.  No one appreciates a flip attitude when life hurts.  But, others do appreciate sharing converation with another who has walked a similar walk.  Everyone appreciates it when a fellow life traveler holds our hand as we struggle through our own difficult time.  These people are gifts.  They understand that bad times come to all, but good times will return.  They help us see that happiness is out there waiting for us.

Happiness comes to those who seek her.  She is always waiting to give huge bushels of herself to anyone who comes seeking.  I welcome her into my life!