Most of my life, I’ve been known as the ‘bubbly’ girl, the ‘happy’ girl, or the girl that’s always smiling or laughing.
A couple weeks ago, someone asked me if my happiness is real/authentic. In that exact moment, I remember feeling extremely happy, satisfied, honored, and awed to have the privilege of responding. I also felt the weight and responsibility of this monumental moment. My answer was sincere and brought joy and gratitude to my heart.
I am truly and deeply happy. Not the happiness that comes from the euphoria of dancing with a talented dance partner, or from looking great in a new dress, or from waking up to the ocean from your front window and deck, but that deep-down, always-present, peace-inducing kind that is joy.
I shared with my friend that I am blessed to have begun my life in the shadow of two amazing women: my mom and my mom’s mom. These beautiful women demonstrated and shared how to find good in anything. I can remember Grandma’s response to me when I was having a trying day. She said, “Just look at it as a break from the dull routine. Think of it as an adventure like those found in The Boxcar Children, The Bobbsey Twins, or Nancy Drew.” Then she gave me a generous serving of banana pudding with Nilla Wafers, and we set about our day with smiles and laughter.
That beautiful thread is woven throughout the tapestry of my life. Even now the thread is present, twenty years after Grandma’s passing. I am overwhelmed with gratitude that I still have my momma to continue showing me how to weave light and joy into my life.
My entire life I have been empowered with the foundational tools for living by design. I learned that by choosing my perspective I could also choose how I felt and how I experienced life. That small tool of perspective builds a BIG bridge to happiness, joy and love for life!
With that ‘reframing’ tool, I went from seeing the glass half empty to the glass half full and even Refillable! With that kind of perspective, I experience obstacles and challenges as opportunities that make me feel alive – eager, determined, and driven. Reframing has helped me design a life where I happen to it, instead of it happening to me. It enables me to design a life and world that I love – a world where I feel good living!
Start with something simple. That uninvited interruption that just happened to you; choose to see it as a welcome break from what you were doing. Or, let that flat tire become the blessing that kept you from a traffic accident or traffic jam. Use that tool like a kid with a magic wand – wave it all over the place! All day long! Sprinkle magic fairy dust all over your life!
Wow…Magic! Life is becoming more enjoyable. Good appears every single day. Wow…I think I just might be happy; I am experiencing joy… (magic fairy dust everywhere as the lights fade…)